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Summary
Summary
Seymour has always dreamed of being a great artist. But he's shy about showing his artwork and, being a snail, he's slow. Who will hire him?
When Seymour finds a job at the Speedy Arts Gallery, he is thrilled-- until he finds himself sliming envelopes shut and delivering packages. Well, even great artists have to start somewhere. And who knows? Seymour's big break might be just around the corner!
Author Notes
LYNN E. HAZEN writes books for children of all ages. She lives in San Francisco, California.
DOUG CUSHMAN has illustrated many books for young readers and written a bunch, too, including the Aunt Eater series. He lives in Paris, France.
Reviews (4)
Horn Book Review
Seymour Snail hopes to become a great artist. Though he's shy about his aspiration, his friends' encouragement gives Seymour the confidence to pursue his art. He takes an entry-level job at a fancy gallery, and soon the artist in him begins to bloom. This upbeat story, illustrated with attentive black-and-white drawings, encourages young readers to follow their dreams. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Seymour Snail hopes to be a great artist someday, but he feels shy about showing his work. He is thrilled to get a job in an art gallery, but he is bullied by his new boss, Mr. Stink Bug. At last, though, Seymour's slimy glitter art is recognized by Mr. Stink Bug's client, Lady CocoLaRoche, and the snail becomes a star. Some of the humor in this early chapter book, illustrated with lively cartoon drawings, may be more for adults who know the pretension of the creative world and the meaning of escargot. But young grade-schoolers will enjoy all the talk about slime and goo, as well as the puns about a friendly spider, who is working on something big--the World Wide Web. Children will also cheer for small Seymour, who oozes along at a snail's pace but triumphs in the end.--Rochman, Hazel Copyright 2009 Booklist
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Shy Seymour is a closet artist, specializing in puddle paintings, leaf prints, and mud sculptures. After his friends discover his talents, they encourage him to make a career of his art. A few phone calls later, Seymour lands a job at the Speedy Arts Gallery. "I'd better get going," he says. "I start tomorrow. And it's a whole block away!" But Seymour finds his duties disappointing: sealing envelopes and delivering packages are not what he had in mind, and his new boss, Mr. Stink Bug, seems impossible to please. Even worse, Seymour is working so hard that he can't find time to look at the work created by a mysterious new artist. With only a few sentences and at least one illustration per page, this title is perfect for students transitioning to chapter books. Some of the story's humor seems aimed more at adults than kids (a spider tells Seymour he's onto something big-the World Wide Web-and an earwig tells him, "the job market is sluggish"). However, Cushman's black-and-white cartoons delineate the characters and add humor and perspective. Readers will enjoy seeing how Seymour uses the phone and understand why a flight of stairs is such an obstacle for him. Suggest this for readers not quite ready for Katie Speck's Maybelle in the Soup (Holt, 2007).-Jackie Partch, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Budding artist Seymour the Snail gains experience by working at a local gallery. Employed by the demanding Mr. Stink Bug, shy Seymour struggles with mundane tasks and hears rumors that there is an inspiring artist in town. When the artist's identity is revealed, Seymour's world changes dramatically. The brief chapters assist readers transitioning from beginning fiction to longer selections. Detailed, shaded drawings fill each page and provide emotional depth. Seymour Snail is an endearing artist; with his tilted beret and paintbrush in mouth, he paints with passion. Cushman's anthropomorphized bugs from the art gallery are a hoot; their sunglasses, beaded necklaces and high heels portray their fast-paced lifestyle. Creative wordplay abounds: Slow Seymour works as the Speedy Art Gallery, and jokes often serve the older reader. The spider with the business card shares, "I'm onto something big. It's called the World Wide Web." Engaging characters and winning art create a solid addition to the field of transitional literature. (Fantasy. 5-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Excerpts
Excerpts
Seymour woke up in a happy mood. He took a puddle bath. He did his morning stretches, nibbled his leafy greens, and drank a bit of dew. Seymour looked out his window. He felt inspired, so he painted a few pictures. Then he checked his calendar. "Oh goody," said Seymour. "My friends are coming over today." He looked around his leafy home. "Uh-oh," he said. "I'd better hide my paintings." Seymour hoped to be a great artist someday. But he felt shy about showing his work. So he gathered his brushes. He hid his puddle paintings under the sofa. He stashed his leaf prints behind a lamp. But how could he hide his big mud sculptures? "Hmm," said Seymour. "I have an idea..." He covered one sculpture with a tablecloth and a vase of flowers. He covered the other one with a hat. Seymour oozed back to see how it looked. "I hope no one notices," he said. Excerpted from The Amazing Trail of Seymour Snail by Lynn E. Hazen All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
