  | How to be brave like a snail (Snail & Stump) Author: Hrab, Naseem | |
| Price: $23.26 | ||
Summary:
Snail's not afraid of loud noises, exploring the glade, or lullaby karaoke. But he is afraid of asking for help, making mistakes, and believing in himself. And so, it's only with support from his best friend Stump that he finds the courage to enter a local paper airplane contest. However, it's Stump who ends up being the one who needs support when the contest is over and he hasn't done nearly as well as he expected.
| Illustrator: | Collier, Kelly |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (08/15/25)
School Library Journal (10/24/25)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/2025 Gr 1–3—Snail and Stump are bastions of cuteness readers can really root for in this encouraging tale of friendship. The book details the bravery in confronting feelings, of facing fears head-on and instead of pushing them down. Snail and the wooden Stump support each other through a paper airplane folding contest, working through nervousness and anger. The narrative is cut through with amusing speech bubbles letting Snail and his friend Stump insert jokes or emotional details. Throughout, it emphasizes how good friends "hold feelings as carefully as [they] fold airplanes." VERDICT A perfect relationship guide, demonstrating how to help others acknowledge and work through emotions while giving space for their own feelings. - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
School Library Journal - 10/24/2025 PreS-Gr 3—Bravery comes in many forms, and sometimes the bravest acts are those performed among friends. Snail feels brave most of the time—but when it comes to considering whether or not to participate in the upcoming paper-airplane contest, he has a marked lack of courage. With the threat of failure looming, Snail bravely confides in Stump, who knows just how to help. And when the tables turn, Snail encourages and supports Stump through difficult moments, as well. This amusing story presents recognizable human feelings from the perspective of anthropomorphic forest characters. While it is an extension of the ongoing series, this book can be enjoyed whether readers have familiarity with the companion tales or not. Snail and best friend Stump are the primary protagonists, and their cartoon-like depictions and familiar dialogue will endear readers to them. Using a blend of word bubbles and narrative text, the book does a good job of explaining the plot in multiple ways while offering caregivers the opportunity to provide additional voices when the story is read aloud. Fans of Dashka Slater's "Escargot" will recognize a similar character in Snail, and anyone who has ever struggled with the ability to express their own emotions will empathize with the experiences here. VERDICT Entertaining and filled with positive modeling, this book is an enjoyable addition to social and emotional storybook collections for young readers, and it is fun to read aloud.—Mary Lanni - Copyright 2025 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
