Leslie McGuirk

I had such high hopes for this book. I was ready to recommend it to all of my Reggio Emilia friends. The rocks used to make the alphabet are certainly cool, but this books just falls flat. Some of the illustrations are marvelous- particularly ghosts, nose, and ouch. Others barely resemble the thing they are named for, like the seahorse. The X page is always the true test of any alphabet book, and XOXO is a fine solution. But what is the accompanying rock supposed to be of? It also bothers me that the title has nothing to do with the contents, except for the rocks. A final (and unfair) criticism- the rocks look too much the same because they all come from the same beach in Florida. Showing the variety of forms that rocks take would have added depth and interest to the artwork and the book. Frankly, I'm surprised to see this on so many Caldecott and best-of-the-year lists.… (altro)

‘Snail Boy’ is by author and illustrator Leslie McGuirk. The picture book is about a giant snail, named Snail, looking for someone special to take him as a pet. After finding a boy who is at first hesitant to take a snail as a pet, Snail shows him all the cool reasons to have one; for instance, being able to talk and never too fast for the boy to keep up like other pets. After some consideration and a trip to the pet store on Snail’s back the boy is all for the idea. The boy even denies the pet store owner on getting a hamster. He is Snail Boy and his pet is Snail and he needs no other.… (altro)