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Serendipity
Snaffles
7in X 10 in purple hardback.Illustrated by Robin James
28 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 1980
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120 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 3, 2017
The artwork in this book is beautiful and makes up for the somewhat plain story that accompanies it. I just couldn't find much of anything to relate to some of the characters but it is the wisdom that is found in the book that saves it for me.
Due to some of the teachings I would say this is a good book for teaching emotions to an older crowd and not a younger crowd who may not understand the lesson.
Due to some of the teachings I would say this is a good book for teaching emotions to an older crowd and not a younger crowd who may not understand the lesson.
November 30, 2025
As always, beautiful artwork accompanies a simple story that drives home a lesson for the reader, no matter what age. Unlike some of the other stories in the Serendipity books though, there's not much in the way of connecting with the characters and their plight, and this short little book was over before I knew it. While it's far from my favorite, it's still a lovely little book with an important message.
October 10, 2018
This is a wonderful book about a jack rabbit who teaches a gruff young bird named Snaffles how to laugh, cry and be sad. He didn't fit in with the other Gruffs, but he had his friend, the rabbit to share his emotions with. This book teaches children that it is normal to experience emotions.
November 14, 2025
This book 📙 teaches a lesson.
May 7, 2021
A delightful story. I purchased a paperback copy of this book back in 1983 for our first son. The book has since passed down to his next two brothers and a sister who arrived 15 years after him. I am now mailing it on to his two daughters, and I know the 6 year old will greatly enjoy it as her little mind is full of questions, like 'Where do tears come why?" "Why do we cry?" "Why do we laugh?". This story of a delightful, happy bunny teaching a big, old bird called Snaffles about sorrow and happiness is precious, as are all the Serendipity books.
February 11, 2023
Look, the fable within is good. The storyline is better than most modern jibberish. The illustrations are just a little old school/creepy. Would still read this over most modern kids boons.
June 30, 2015
"You can't find happiness until you know sadness and you can't have true laughter until you know the taste of your own tears."
A long, long time ago, I remember reading these books at school - not all of them, of course, but some - particularly the original story of Serendipity, the pink dinosaur. Sadly, none of my peers and later friends in life seem to know of them - so we must have had a very special collection in our library. Anyhow, with their bright and whimsical illustrations and charming moral messages, I have begun collecting them where I can.
The writer is Stephen Cosgrove, and whilst he pens a fine moral story with quirky characters and a strong message, the true charm likes in the whimsical illustrations of Robin James. Sadly, Cosgrove is always the one credited and James does not even have her own wikipedia page.
I picked this one up in hardback, and it looks as though it has previously been loved. The colours are saturated, speaking somewhat of days when colour printing was less precise than it is now, but this just makes the barren land of Grimm (somewhere in the southern US?) look all the more stark and barren and captures the desert environment well. The story itself is very simple - the main character Snaffles, is a vulture-like creature who meets a rabbit that shows him how to laugh.
A delightful picturebook for any child aged 3+.
A long, long time ago, I remember reading these books at school - not all of them, of course, but some - particularly the original story of Serendipity, the pink dinosaur. Sadly, none of my peers and later friends in life seem to know of them - so we must have had a very special collection in our library. Anyhow, with their bright and whimsical illustrations and charming moral messages, I have begun collecting them where I can.
The writer is Stephen Cosgrove, and whilst he pens a fine moral story with quirky characters and a strong message, the true charm likes in the whimsical illustrations of Robin James. Sadly, Cosgrove is always the one credited and James does not even have her own wikipedia page.
I picked this one up in hardback, and it looks as though it has previously been loved. The colours are saturated, speaking somewhat of days when colour printing was less precise than it is now, but this just makes the barren land of Grimm (somewhere in the southern US?) look all the more stark and barren and captures the desert environment well. The story itself is very simple - the main character Snaffles, is a vulture-like creature who meets a rabbit that shows him how to laugh.
A delightful picturebook for any child aged 3+.
May 13, 2015
A nameless, happy rabbit shows Snaffles what emotions are. Brightly colored pictures on every other page illustrate this story of a young Gruff (who looks suspiciously like a vulture only with purple feathers) that goes in search of emotions. It’s an easy read for young children about the value of feelings and the importance of following your own path even if others around you don’t agree. It’s a soft poke at conformity with a hint of contradiction as the rabbit outlines the need for tears as well as laughter.
June 16, 2009
"You can't find happiness until you know sadness and you can't have true laughter until you know the taste of your own tears."
January 23, 2011
Check out my blog, Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing for my thoughts and memories of the Serendipity series!
March 16, 2013
Love this series.
Read
July 10, 2014Love this book, it is a great social/emotional book for kids. I have used it in group therapy with art projects afterwards.
September 9, 2014
A lovable story that will make your kids smile, this is another classic Serendipity tale with wonderful morals.
March 6, 2016
Another awesome book by Mr. Cosgrove. He teaches us with Snaffles that it's okay to show your emotions.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews