Snook Alone

by Marilyn Nelson

Abba Jacob is a monk who lives on a faraway island with his loyal rat terrier, Snook. Every day Snook keeps Abba Jacob company as he prays or works, tending the gardens or fixing the plumbing of the little hermitage he calls home. But when the two are separated by a ferocious storm, suddenly Snook must learn to fend for himself.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Dogs, Friendship, Fiction, Poetry

48 pages, Hardcover

First published September 14, 2010

About the author

Marilyn Nelson is the author of many acclaimed books for young people and adults, including CARVER: A LIFE IN POEMS, a Newbery Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Honor Book, and A WREATH FOR EMMETT TILL, a Printz Honor Book and Coretta Scott King Honor Book. She also translated THE LADDER, a picture book by Halfdan Rasmussen. She lives in East Haddam, Connecticut.

For more information, please see http://www.answers.com/topic/marilyn-...

Reviews

[Baby Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Baby Bookworm. Visit us for new picture books reviews daily!

Hello, friends! Our book today is Snook Alone, written by Marilyn Nelson and illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering, a tale of a clever pup’s survival when he is marooned on an island.

Snook is a happy, hardworking rat terrier who lives with his master and best friend, Abba Jacob. Abba Jacob is a monk, a caretaker for a small hermitage on an unnamed island. His days are filled with quiet, repetitive tasks, which he undertakes in quiet contentment, Snook a constant companion by his side. One day, Abba Jacob travels to help some naturalists catalog species on a small outer island, taking Snook with him. When a storm unexpectedly descends and forces the party to leave, poor Snook is left behind in the rush. Now Snook must survive on his own, finding food, water, and shelter in an unfamiliar place filled with wonders and dangers alike. As he grows more capable, he continues to look out over the sea, missing his friend and wondering – will Abba Jacob ever return to him?

Right off the bat, let me say: this book is not meant for readers JJ’s age. It was recommended to us by a friend, and it quickly became apparent during our read-through that Snook’s story is intended for older children, early middle-grade at least. However, for the appropriate age-range, this one has tons of appeal. It’s a classic tale of survival, of hope, and of the unending loyalty of dogs. The language is beautiful, painting rich, wild environment while evoking Snook’s confusion, yearning, fear, and devotion; it puts the reader right there with the little dog as his tale unfolds. The art is a good counterpoint to this, using color and tone to immerse the reader in the story. My only complaint is the rather cartoonish appearance of the human characters, which seem odd juxtaposed against the realistic scenery and animal characters. The length is not for little ones (JJ was very squirmy by the end), but fine for older kids. A lovely tale of a dog’s love, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

Be sure to check out The Baby Bookworm for more reviews!

[Susan Hesson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As children's books go, this has an above-average vocabulary, so it's not a choice for the emergent reader. However, the artwork by Timothy Basil Erving is so enchanting and the story is a sweet read-aloud. This is the book you will read with your child over and over again, discovering new secrets hidden in both the language and the drawings each time.

I picked up the book because the cover drawing looks like our Smooth Fox Terrier. Okay, the story is really about a RAT terrier, but the breeds are similar enough is both looks and personality to draw me in. Snook is the sole companion of a solitary monk who lives on an island, cataloguing and observing endangered wildlife, while fulfilling his monastic duties.

Separated from the monk during a birding expedition, Snook's story becomes a sort of canine "Old Man and the Sea," as he struggles to survive, pitted against the elements and the other inhabitants of the tiny sliver of land on which he has been stranded. His natural curiousity and instinct to survive, coupled with his love for the monk whose scent has faded but whose memory lingers, sustain the little dog during his exile.

Snook Alone is a sweet book, rich in language and imagery. The writing style does not talk down to children, and expects that the book will be read by a reader who can help explain the book to those too young to grasp the words without assistance. It is my hope that the delightful illustrations will help draw in young listeners and keep their attention, while a good reader brings the tale of Snook alive.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Need proof that this picture book ain't for your standard picture book audience (K-2nd grade)? An excerpt:

Sometimes Snook watched the birds.
The fairy terns, arrowlike white creatures,
quick and agile, flew in mated pairs,
dive-bombing the sea and flying home
with little fishes dangling from their beaks
like handlebar mustaches.

The youngest of readers won't follow, but this is pretty stellar stuff for 4th/5th grade on up.
Living on an island with his master, monk Abba Jacob, rat terrier Snook is in charge of vermin control. When the pair visit a new island to catalog the plants and animals, a storm leaves them separated. Snook explores his new home and waits to see if Abba Jacob will return.
The artwork is Caldecott-level outstanding. Ering mixes sweeping acrylic and ink vistas with smaller, more detailed spot illustrations, giving this modern story the look of a timeless tale. - T

I just came across this on our new junior picture shelf (picture books for older readers) this month, and i keep recommending it to my readers who love this section. The artwork is fantastic--In addition to T's notes above, Snook's expressions add much to the descriptions and really capture his personality. ~s

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to a radio interview with Marilyn Nelson and Krista Tippett (On Being). Nelson's comments made me want to read the complete works of Marilyn Nelson. This is Book One for me.

This is ostensibly a children's book about a little dog that gets left alone on an island, separated from Abba Jacob, the monk he lives with. We first see the quiet life of work the dog has with the contemplative monk at a hermitage and then the life he has after they are separated. We see the little dog's loyalty, listening, longing, his continued work and learning, his play, his waiting.

Poetic observation: "The terns soared back for a new catch, weaving together like streaks of playful light, every movement a synonym for joy."

And in case we don't see how we are like the little dog: "But Avocaire Island was the center of a vast circle of longing. And from one unknown direction Snook's longing came back to him, mirrored in a fractal of moving sea-light, one flicker of which was Abba Jacob's prayer."

I'm glad I have a stack of books by Marilyn Nelson to read next.

Note on "children's" book - lots of plant names I didn't know: pemphis, casuarina, arguisia, but the beautiful illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering fill in those definitions.

[Monica Edinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was a bit skeptical opening this one up as I worried it be another sappy dog book and I don't well with sappy and even less well with sappy dog books (now that I have such a companion of my own). But I was blown away by it --- in lesser hands this same story might indeed be a sweet and sentimental tale of friendship, but in the hands of these two it is elevated to something much, much more. Exquisite.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snook, abandoned inadvertantly, reminded me of Tom Hanks' character in Cast Away, only sadder and sweeter since Snook doesn't understand where his friend went or why. The details of the island and the creatures of the sand and sea and the lovely language are matched by the art by Timothy Basil Ering who certainly knows the poignancy in the curved back of a dog, head hung low.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abba Jacob lived on an island with his dog, Snook. Each day their routine was the same. They got up at dawn, prayed, worked together, and spent time in companionable silence together. Sometimes there were visitors or Abba Jacob headed off to town in his car, but Snook was always there waiting for him. Until one day, Snook and Abba Jacob headed out in a boat to help catalog plant and animal species on the islands. Snook was along to help catch the rats and mice that were disrupting the birds and animals of the islands. It was great micing! It was so good that Snook got too involved in his work, so when a storm blew up, Abba Jacob was forced to leave Snook behind on the deserted island. All alone, Snook found his own rhythm of silence, catching food, finding water, silence and waiting. Sometimes he thought he could hear Abba Jacob’s voice on the wind, but no one came for him. Snook spent a long time alone on the island, never forgetting his friend, Abba Jacob. Until one day, a fishing boat returned to the island with Abba Jacob aboard!

This book is such a delight. It is a book with such depth, such quiet, such silence that its power builds during those quiet moments, creating a magnificent longing. It is a book that celebrates the simple, the quiet, the profound in our lives. It is a book about enduring friendship, continued connection, and at its heart: love. Nelson writes with such a beauty here that some lines make you stop and you have to remember to breathe again. They are moments just like in the book itself, moments of simple clarity, embedded in the writing. This is a book that will be a grand choice for a class to discuss, perfection for advanced students who will enjoy the language but will also enjoy the illustrations. It is a book to be shared.

Ering’s illustrations echo the themes of the book with their delightful mix of cartoon and painting. Abba Jacob is a round, merry soul shown in cartoon lines. Snook on the other hand can be funny and cartoonish, but is also depicted as a noble beast in paints. The illustrations work exceedingly well to show simple life, the vistas of the sea and the island, and the warmth of the connection between man and dog.

A masterful book about faith and friendship, this is an outstanding picture book that deserves plenty of recognition on best book lists but more importantly a spot in school and public libraries. Appropriate for ages 5-9.

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bringing her award-winning affinity for poetic description to the task of writing a picture book, author Marilyn Nelson shows that she is at least as good in this medium as she is at the writing of verse.

Abba Jacob—a solitary monk who lives a quite, simple life on an island away from the mainstream population—and Snook, his loving rat terrier, become separated from each other one day when they travel to an island away from their regular home to help in the classification of animals on behalf of The Society for the Preservation of St. Brandon's Atoll. Marooned by himself on the island, Snook resolutely watches for the return of his master, weathering the days that are filled with activity by the island's animal inhabitants, and the nights, quiet and mysterious beneath the majestic night skies. Marilyn Nelson's abilities with poetry certainly do not fail her here; many of the book's most memorable lines are in her vivid descriptions of the various forms of life that make the island their home, and the rituals that each species carefully follows as it carries on the process of life. Through it all, though, Snook never turns from his hope that Abba Jacob will one day find his way back to the island and claim the little dog who has always belonged to him, in heart and mind.

Snook Alone is probably the best of Marilyn Nelson's books that I've read. Her writing is succinct and straightforward, and she tells the story very well. The illustrations, brought to the table by the notable Timothy Basil Ering, also deserve special mention. The story just would not be what it is without them.

I would consider giving two and a half stars to this book.

[Erin Reilly-Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, I really wanted to super like this one- The art of the dog is adorable and the endpapers are great- what colour and texture! Unfortunately, it's easy to see why it didn't come away with awards. The story has so much text that it hinders the function of the picturebook- Nelson has way to much detail to leave anything for the pictures to say despite using lovely words and describing interesting places, creatures, and feelings. The story would have made a rather nice first chapterbook and avoided being subjected to major edits to fit better into the picturebook genre. I also have major quibbles with the illustration. From the text, I'm getting the idea that this is a modern monk- a man in simple but modern dress. I like that the story isn't about a historic monk but the cartoony dude with the big head just seems wrong. It also feels like too much illustration on the page at one point- perhaps trying to keep up with the lengthy text. Additionally, the giant crab seems to be too giant for a real creature the size of a large hand. Unfortunately, this takes away from the realism that the text suggests and makes it fantastical instead. And come to think of it, the place in the story plays a huge role but I have no idea where in the world it's taking place- maps would be appreciated please. From clues it seems someplace in the southern hemisphere- maybe Australia-ish from the dialect bits at the end that seen stuck on rather than appropriate and integrated. What a shame for such a cute little dog to be stuck in a book that comes nowhere near its potential.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me want to read more of Marilyn Nelson's work. She has a marvelous way with words, her descriptions are vivid and evocative. And "Snook Alone" is a lovely book, filled with warmth.

But that said, this isn't a book for young children. It's not that children can't understand the loneliness and longing that Snook experiences, but that the 'poetry' of the phrasing is quite refined.

Sometimes Snook watched the birds.
The fairy terns, arrowlike white creatures,
quick and agile, flew in mated pairs,
dive-bombing the sea and flying home
with little fishes dangling from their beaks
like handlebar mustaches.


Beautiful, isn't it. And yet, I could see my children's attention slowly dissolving as I read. (Perhaps my fault, or perhaps no one's fault. I'll likely try reading it several more times to see if results vary. But "Snook Alone" isn't a book I'd bring to try out on an unknown audience.)

And I guess that would be my bottom line. Snook Alone is what I call a "Library Find". It's a book to borrow first and purchase after a test run. It's a good story but it's not going to be for everyone.

Pam T~

[American Mensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Snook Alone" is about a dog and his owner and he loses his owner and then finds his owner again. Snook and his owner love each other very much.

I think kids would like it because it's about a dog that tries to make the best of when he is alone and he's waiting for his owner.
I think other kids would enjoy it more if they were old enough to actually understand the words.

My favorite part is when Snook is with Abba Jacob and they are praying and sleeping and cleaning toilets together.

Snook alone on the island tried to make the best of it until his friend (owner) Abba Jacob returned. He didn't just stay sad and think, "I'm not going to have any fun."

Even though there were a lot of difficult words, it was still great!

Review by Sadie B., Greater Los Angeles Area Mensa

[Amy Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those really beautiful and moving books, but I don't know how kids would respond to it. It's fairly long for a picture book, so it wouldn't work for our storytime. The illustrations are done in acrylic and ink, and they really set the perfect tone for the book. The story gets incredibly sad,

*SPOILER ALERT*

but it has a happy ending. The story is just told so well. The descriptions make you feel like you're alone on the island with the lonely little pup. There are lots of opportunities to introduce new vocabulary and experience lots of different emotions.

Overall, I'd recommend this book for a kid who's a little older (maybe elementary school age) and who's kind of introspective.

[Barbara L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book!

Snook is a little terrier who lives on an island with a monk,Abba Jacob. It's Snook's job to chase the rats out of the garden. Snook observes Abba Jacob in his monastic lifestyle: climbing the stairs of the tower to meditate, his prayer, his service, tending the garden, the picture of a woman and a child on the table, so many beautiful details. Snook and Abba Jacob go to an island and are separated by a storm. Snook is left to fend for himself amidst storms and wild creatures, faithfully awaiting his masters return.

This is a brilliant book. The language and illustrations are stunning, the layers of meaning blew me away.

[Phoebe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite wordy for a picture book (my only quibble), nevertheless this is a sweet story of a beloved dog who is stranded on an island after a storm and waits patiently for his owner to return and get him. At first I wondered why it took so long for Abba Jacob to return for Snook, but perhaps from Snook's perspective time is fluid. The pictures are endearing and interesting, with an almost cartoonishly cute Abba Jacob playing against the more realistically portrayed Snook and his natural surroundings.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Themes: dog, survival, monk, hermit, faith

Characters: Snook and Abba Jacob

Poetry in free verse tells the tale of a dog regretfully abandoned on an island. Not to worry, there is food and water for the dog to survive. It's the fight against unknown creatures and loneliness. The illustrations in ink and arcylic are warm, loving, and dramatic on the creamy parchment of the pages. Abba Jacob, dressed in a toga, draws the reader to the past even though he lives in the present.

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I got the feeling of "How sweet" with this story. But there were sometimes that the imagery missed its mark with me. Loved the illustrations. Not exactly what I'm used to, which may be why I liked them. Snook is adorable. I definitely felt the loneliness, but also the various curiosities available for him to explore while he waited for rescue. Too much text for a preschool storytime, and might not be as interesting for a school-age storytime. But a very good lap-read and read-alone, especially for dog lovers.

[Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicely descriptive text. But holy cow, a gut punch at times. Like Hachiko Waits, Jurassic Bark, and Greyfriars Bobby: the story of an unwaveringly loyal dog. And I'm a sucker for that trope.

Great adventures for poor loyal Snook along the way, though. Far better than just waiting endlessly outside of a shabby pizza joint.

[Courtenay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this story. But in a time and age when editors and agents are looking for picture books under 500 words, I find it hard to understand how books like this can even exist. Don't get me wrong, I am so glad this story exists (read it twice) but it almost feels like a picture book for adults, if there's such a thing, with its beautiful mood of solitude and quiet, a dog waiting for the return of his master. Helps that I am a dog lover and have read everything I can get my hands on with a dog character, from PB to MG, YA to adult. Dog character? I'm reading it.

[BrocheAroe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though not technically a picturebook, this book is intended for a picturebook-age audience of ages 4-7. The combination of acclaimed poet Marilyn Nelson and award-winning illustrator Timothy Basil Ering (who illustrated Kate DiCamillo’s A Tale of Despereaux, among others) is sure to produce a hit. A quiet tale, this story is about a monk named Abba Jacob and his rat terrier, Snook. They live on an island together, but when the two are separated in a storm, the tale becomes Snook’s journey finding his way back to his friend.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abba Jacob is a monk who lives on an island with his dog, Snook. When a terrible storm separates them, Snook learns to survive in the wild while waiting for his beloved friend to return.

I enjoyed the lush descriptions of beach life and Snook's experiences. The only false note-- the illustrations of Abba Jacob gave him a comical appearance which did not seem in keeping with the tone of the story.

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a sweet doggy who loves his companion, a monk named Abba Jacob. I don't think I would read this book all at once to any child because I, myself, got bored. It's a book which needs to be taken in sections. Still, there's nothing too amazing about it. No surprises and it's rather sudden that the boat comes back. I didn't particular like the book, but 3 stars for great, vivid wording.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable kid's book about a monk's rat terrier who gets stranded on a tropical island. Got this one as a birthday present, and so glad I did. The artwork is quite excellent as well, with fine attention to detail in spite of the watercolor sort of whimsical quality throughout. Unique, and recommended.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pictures are cute (the reason I read the book) but the text is disjointed. If it is intended for children, waaaaay too wordy. Also the story skips; I checked more than once to see if I had missed a page.

[Briana · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dog gets left by his monk on a deserted island. Dog goes from bedtime to boat time without a viable transition, annoying enough I wondered if book had a misprint. Story just didn't work for me, and is lengthier than most quick picture books.

[Abigayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching and sensitive story about a relationship between an old monk and his little dog, with a stunning mixture of quirky little line drawings and acrylic full-pagers. This one will go on my All-Time Favourites list.

[Ryo · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, this book reminds me of a dog in Japan, that dog also waits for his owner like Snook alone. I wonder why dogs have such nice loyalty for the owners. This book expressing this feature well so I liked it. Moreover, the illustration is also good. Thus, this is a really good book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, poignant picture book for elementary age kids.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not suited to age group.

[Caren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet dog story told in a beautiful lyrical style.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one that needs to be read aloud.