Escargot and the Search for Spring

Escargot #4

by Dashka Slater, Sydney Hanson (Illustrator)

A cute French snail sets off on a springtime adventure with an adorable bunny in this laugh-out-loud fourth picture book in the bestselling Escargot series―the perfect gift for Easter or all year round.

Bonjour! After a long winter spent indoors, Escargot can’t wait to look outside for the first signs of Spring. Will he find a new friend in the fluffy white bunny he meets along the way?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor, Rabbits, Storytime, France

40 pages, Hardcover

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Dashka Slater’s novel, The Wishing Box, was named one of the best books of the year by the Los Angeles Times, which called it “an impish novel, hopeful and full of humor.” She is the author of four acclaimed children's books: Baby Shoes; Firefighters in the Dark; The Sea Serpent and Me and Dangerously Ever After. She has two picture books forthcoming in 2017, as well as the much-anticipated Young Adult non-fiction narrative The 57 Bus.

Slater is also an award-winning journalist who has written for such publications as Newsweek, More, Salon, Mother Jones, Sierra, and The New York Times Magazine. The recipient of a Creative Writing Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, she is currently working on new books for both children and adults. Learn more at www.dashkaslater.com.

Reviews

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for my toddler's bedtime. What a cute illustration of the bunny rabbit! Great story of the Escargot. It has been inside all winter. The escargot was tired of cozy sweaters and hot chocolate. It's ready to go out in search of spring. But its door was stuffed with what looks like a snow bank until it used a shovel to dig out and found that wasn't snow at all. Once outside, the bunny followed the escargot but the escargot wasn't happy with being followed. This is an interactive book where the escargot invited readers into having a conversation with it. There are French words within the story.

Thank you MacKidsBooks for the opportunity to read and review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hangry snail with ennui? It's me.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love the Escargot books! They are so much fun to read aloud (and, oui, you simply must do a French accent) Escargot has such personality and the bunny is adorable -- a fun, sweet choice for a spring-themed read.

[Sivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Only reason it's not 5 is to distinguish from the original

[Pat-z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonjour!

I read this, using my best French accent, in preparation for Spring Break. It was cute!
I am a public librarian who is terrified of reading to crowds. C'est inacceptable!
With this little book, however, it may be kind of fun!
A French snail searching for signs of Spring. A random bunny rabbit who doesn't speak, but is very fluffy!
The only reason it didn't get to 5 stars is because there were not many signs of spring until the end. This will still work as an entertaining read for the kiddos, but I thought there would be a couple more things spring-related to get their minds going about what they're seeing around them during the season. There is a bit of a teaching moment: sharing space/things with others.
Au revoir!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little book! I have read all the other Escargot books and enjoyed them immensely. This is the first one I did on audio, and it was delightful!
We are most definitely getting the book at the library. I do enjoy the pictures and can’t wait to see the ones in this one. Escargot is such a cute little guy.
Tim Campbell did an excellent job narrating the story, with a perfect French accent. I Loved this story so much.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this delightful ALC

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be my favorite Escargot tale yet! The cozy activities... the adorable expressions and illustrations... the ENNUI! So much cuteness. And the relatability of confusing boredom with hangryness is real. Added bonus: just NOW noticing that the G-O in all the series's titles is in a different shade to help little readers with pronunciation! Magnifique!

[Lois Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escargot charms us again while demonstrating "ennui."

[Georgetowner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escargot is a darling!

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Dashka Slater, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley.

This audiobook is narrated by Tim Campbell. Mr. Campbell has a delightfully engaging and charming voice. This has a high quality production value with story enhancing sound effects.

This is a delightful and engaging children's story about a French snail who is tired of winter. Escargot talks about ennui or boredom and gives options to beat the dull drums. This features a small amount of French phrases which is perfect for kids. My grandkids laughed all through this. The background soundtrack is very cute.

Thank you to Dashka Slater, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[A Allen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not familiar with the "Escargot" series before picking this book up at the public library. Escargot is a "beautiful French snail" and Slater has sprinkled a little French in the book, such as when Escargot counts to three. Escargot decides to dig through the "enormous snowbank" blocking the front door and go look for signs of spring. Spoiler: the snowbank is actually a bunny's butt! Escargot asks readers questions, tells a knock-knock joke, and shares an interesting fact, too. When the "snowbank" is following them, Escargot finally realizes that the snowbank is actually a bunny. However, Escargot thinks there are plenty of books about bunnies and tells them to go away. When the bunny does not leave, Escargot wants to have a hopping contest where the winner gets the book to themselves. In the end, the bunny is able to give Escargot this adorable basket with a "To: Escargot" tag which they have been carrying around since the beginning of the book. The basket has food inside and Escargot realizes they were actually hungry and had been rude! Then the two eat more together.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps one of the best board books I've ever seen. Well-written board books are major artistic achievements because of the challenges inherent to telling a lucid, compelling story, build character and infuse them with personality all told with simple language and very few words. Escargot does that and more, introducing English-language readers to French vocabulary. This isn't Baby Einstein, but it might be just beyond a child's comfort zone, the sweet spot that's not the deep end, but deep enough to truly intellectually and aesthetically enrich the audience. Not only does Escargot do that, it adds whimsy and enigma, somehow finding a way to seamlessly add a flawlessly Zen-like subtext about the virtue of being in the present moment and not confusing your thoughts with reality--all without trying to teach or preach to boot! I am tempted to tell you the specifics of the story, but I cannot deprive you of the chance to discover the book's delights as they unfold before you. Let's just say this little book has heart, soul, and brains. Dig in, y'all!

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Escargot and the Search for Spring" by Dashka Slater is a children's picture book. This review is only for the audiobook version narrated by Tim Campbell.

The main character is a snail named Escargot. He has a French accent, and it is very humorous in sound and words. He talks to the reader in the first person. He heads outside to hunt for signs of spring. He finds a white bunny, and it takes a while to determine if the bunny is going to be a friend or an enemy.

It is all lighthearted and fun. I had no trouble imagining the pictures in my mind. Sound effects and music add nicely to this story and are not distracting. It helps to listen to this at 1.0 speed.


I would recommend this audiobook for young children.

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, MacMillan Young listeners, and Dashka Slater for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh la la! Escargot is back! It is winter and our little snail friend has a touch of ennui longing for winter to end and spring to be here. See? There is an enormous snow bank blocking the door to the house! Oh wait - c'est impossible! Does that snow bank have a tail? Oui. Yes. It does.

I really enjoy Escargot - and found myself smiling all the way through the book. This is a lovely welcome to spring book that does not focus on Easter or any other spring holiday even though it has a cute little bunny. And yes - Escargot is a bit rude but they were quite hungry, you see. Which is très raisonnable. There is a tiny, petite bit of French in the book but it is all easily understandable in context. The colors are bright and Escargot is lovely.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

An absolutely adorable book about a French snail venturing out after a long winter. Funny and sweet.

I'm always a fan of fourth wall breaks and loved the humor of Escargot's conversations with the reader. This is the first Escargot book I've read and I really enjoyed it. Will be looking out for the previous books.

The artwork is likewise adorable. Cute and colorful.

A wonderful book for welcoming spring.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know this was the fourth in the series! I'll have to check out the others.

In this one our friend, the snail is feeling a bit dejected about things. He's suffering from ennui. He needs to find a way to beat the blues and he tries all different kinds of things until spring springs in the shape of a bunny and some flowers.

Bright and lovely, it also has one of the best first pages-- why hello, how are you, you're looking lovely today- kind of opening with him sitting in a comfy chair.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

So I grabbed this on audiobook (it was a choice to chose that format) because I thought my daughter would get a kick out of an audiobook. This was a really cool audiobook because it had fun background sounds. I think I liked this one better than my daughter did. I loved escargots accent and those background noises that truly added to the story. This one I think was like 8 mins which was a little long for my 6 year old. What she really wants is a audiobook with pics lol.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the great read.

[TheRetiredSchoolLibrarian |Mrs. Ferraris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief summary:  Escargot, a French snail, is feeling ennui, which is a sense of boredom with everything around him. He wants to go outside to search for signs of spring. A friendly white bunny follows him, trying to make friends with Escargot, although the snail doesn't initially reciprocate.

Comments: There are a few French words included in the text. I could entertain myself by reading it with a French accent.

Rating: 3.5/5 📗📗📗1/2

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another tale of our friend, Escarot, this time, digging himself out of ennui, through a "snowbank" (actually a fluffy white bunny), followed with a jaunty adventure, with said bunny in tow. 100% delightful. Must be read aloud with a French accent.

Themes: spring, snails, humor
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year 2024

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

March 28 storytime - "Easterish". This one kind of fell into my lap when I was processing a bunch of new picture books. I'd picked out something more overtly Eastery that I didn't really like, and when I looked at this cover I immediately fell in love with Escargot. It's adorable, and fits with the bunny theme I have going. I'm attempting a French accent...we'll see how it goes.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

After being inside all winter, Escargot, the French snail sets off in search of Spring. He is somewhat perplexed when a small white starts to follow him everywhere he goes. Escargot challenges the bunny to a hopping contest with plans to escape from the bunny, but things change suddenly as Escargot understands the error of his ways.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As adorable and precious as all of the rest of the Escargot books, only this one has a bunny and introduces the concept of ennui lmao. I feel like these books manage to be things that adults won't roll their eyes at when they read it repeatedly to their kids, and as always, the conversational aspect of the writing, opening things up to conversation with the reader, is really great.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the search for spring, Escargot (who is suffering from ennui) encounters a bunny rabbit who absolutely should NOT be in the book. It is not a bunny book! In an attempt to get rid of the bunny, Escargot challenges it to a hopping contest. Is there room for both of them in the book? Will Escargot be cured from its ennui?

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Escargot is adorable, as is the bunny, but the story lacks a little “je ne sais quoi.” For all the ennui and complaints, the snail doesn’t get very far in the search for spring. What little is found seems to be contained in Bunny’s tiny Easter basket. Sadly, the two eat the spring flowers. Quel dommage.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**This book is being considered as a nominee for next year’s Beehive Book Award for Children in Utah. My review reflects my thoughts as it pertains to that consideration.**

Not gonna lie - I kind of wanted the whole book to be about Escargot trying to remove the "snowbank" blocking his door and only at the end does he realize what it really is. But it was still cute.

Storytime: Spring

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun series. Escargot tired of winter goes out to try to find spring in the snow. Silly, funny, French expressions. I've listened to the audiobook it's a great one to listen to in the classroom to take a break from a long task.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I dare you to find anything more adorable than a French snail and a very fluffy white bunny! I love the Escargot series and this book didn't disappoint! They are charming and sweet and fun to read aloud.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little audiobook. I thought it covered a lot of good topics like boredom and emotions. I also thought the narrator was very engaging and brought the story to life even without illustrations.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy.

[Emily Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute addition to the escargot series! Can’t wait to add this to our collection. We listened to the audio book version and the narrator definitely did a better French accent than my attempt, haha!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a white bunny decides to follow the French snail, Escargo, and starts hogging the pages Escargo wants it gone. As he says, "it's not a bunny book"! The art is so cute in all of the books, and adding a fluffy white bunny just made it cuter.