Turtle and Snail

by Zibby Oneal, Margot Tomes (Illustrator)

Five episodes in which a turtle and a snail demonstrate their fondness for and loyalty to each other .

47 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1979

About the author

Zibby Oneal was born on March 17, 1934, in Omaha, Nebraska. "My mother loved books, both for their content and because they are beautiful objects. Our house was full of them. She read aloud to us a great deal. I can remember finding it miraculous that she could look at the strange black marks on a page and see a story there. I planned to fill pages with black marks of my own as soon as I learned how to make them. Wanting to write goes back that far anyway."

"[Our] house ... was full of paintings as well, and though I am no artist, I think in terms of color and composition. All my books have begun with a picture in mind--a character and a place visualized. When I can see these things clearly--almost as if they were a painting on a wall--then I can begin to write about them."

Reviews

[Kelly]

A lovely and simple depiction of friendship, in the same vein as Frog and Toad Are Friends.

[Cheryl]

Ok. Simplistic, even for a leveled reader. I really don't like animals wearing clothes, though. The insects look especially ridiculous.

[Libby]

It reminded me of Squid and Octopus: Friends for Always.