Sorry, Snail
by Tracy Subisak; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Little, Brown    32 pp.
5/23    9780316537728    $18.99

“Ari was mad. She was not allowed to yell when upset, so she danced.” ­Unfortunately, Ari fails to work out all her anger dancing and instead takes it out on an innocent snail munching greens nearby. Her insults drive it away, but later that evening the snail (Ms. Snail, she proclaims) pays Ari a late-night visit, making her hurt feelings known and demanding an apology. Ari delivers an insincere one, and Ms. Snail feels even more offended. All the next day, she and many snail friends seek revenge. Soon it is Ari who feels hurt and mistreated. Ink, watercolor, pastel, and colored-pencil illustrations are soothingly rounded with plenty of white space and, combined with a text full of snail-based humor, work to keep the snail vs. human showdown from becoming too harsh or unpleasant. “‘It is time for Snaily Justice!’… Ari could feel the rage emanating from the escargatoire.” In the end both Ari and Ms. Snail recognize that they have let their emotions get out of control, and sincere apologies and compliments are bestowed all around. More dancing and a new friendship ensue. This visually appealing, engagingly wacky story offers an emotionally honest look at the way we can carelessly hurt others when our feelings overtake us.

Pubissue-From the May/June 2023 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.