Snap!

by Janet A. Holmes, Daniella Germain (Illustrator)

A sensitive story about the fear of the new, perfect for the first day of school The big day has come—and that can be terrifying. Sometimes the only thing to do is hide behind a scary mask and hope it frightens the monsters away. But snapping and snarling isn't always the best way. Perhaps a friendly smiling mask might work better. This lovely story about learning to be brave teaches children to face their fears with a smile instead of a frown.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

JANET A. HOLMES was born and grew up in Perth, Western Australia. After completing an Arts Degree at the University of Western Australia, Janet worked as a research assistant for various organisations and academics. Following a Graduate Diploma in Education, she worked as a teacher-librarian in a primary school. She then moved to Canberra where she still lives.

Reviews

[Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

For us, this worked particularly well. Miss 3 has autism, anxiety, and other health issues. There are young kids on spectrum who feel most comfortable wearing the same costume every day, or who are fascinated with an animal (like a dinosaur, or shark); for her, it's method acting being a cat for prolonged periods of time when she's feeling anxious. She also acutely studies people's faces and can easily miscontrue tiny features (like brows micro-tightening) for big scary emotions. Her perceptions of the world around her can be very different than that of neuro-typical kids so for us this was quite apt. I probably got quite a different read out of it as compared to a friend who read it as him going to a costume party at a girl's house.

Miss 3 and I like to explore different books and authors at the library, sometimes around particular topics or themes. We try to get different ones out every week or so; it's fun for both of us to have the variety and to look at a mix of new & favourite authors.

[Deatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brimming with details and imagination. A clever story about overcoming shyness and the ensuing friendship that follows.

[Patsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes it's easier to hide behind a mask and say Snap! instead of facing people directly. Good discussion starter with children.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I judged the book by the cover...didn't work in my favor this time.

[Emily Uebel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Snap! is a picture book that is meant to be read by children between 3-5 years old. I am giving this book 3 stars because I didn’t really understand much about this book other than the fact that the little boy puts on a scary mask to send away the scary monsters. At the end of the book the little boy meets a young girl who sits next to him on a log and he tells her that it is his log and she can’t sit there. The little girls sits there and says it is her log too and she draws a picture of a monkey. The little boy really likes the picture of the monkey and wears that as a mask. He and the little girl end up playing till they have to go home and he sleeps with the monkey mask on. I think the reading language used it good and kids will understand the words, however I am just not a big fan of this book, I think there are many other great children picture books out there. However the pictures are done well and I think they will stick out to children.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

He wears his crocodile face to his first day at a new school so he can SNAP! at anyone who speaks to him. And then he makes a friend. Not, shall we say, unpredictable. But cute, and sharp.

The four stars are for the illustrations - nice strong ink lines with lots of crosshatched shadows. Clear watercolors. AND that cool compositional thing where the artist cuts out her elements and collages them with enough built-up space between layers to create shadows. Gives the work a tactile, dimensional look that I think feels very familiar to kids.

[D'Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book as did my 5-year-old son. The illustrations are great, for one. But the story is sweet. Holmes uses a metaphor of "putting on a mask," which has become completely cliché and which in less skilled hands would have just resulted in something really corny, to look at how children often deal with fear and uncertainty by lashing out. It's the perfect illustration of the argument that all children are seeking love and stability, even when they don't know how to ask for it or seem to be rejecting it outright.

[Miss Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a real good choice to read to a kid afraid of going to school for the first time. The story mentions very little of what happens at school, most of the day seems to be spent at recess, and it may make your child want to wear and actual mask to school which will most likely be prohibited.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by Janet A Holmes and illustrated by Daniella Germaine, this is a heartfelt and vividly illustrated story of a disgruntled little boy, fearful of moving out of his comfort zone and finally resolving his fears with a good friend.

[Elisabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think this might be a little too abstract for the intended audience?

[Ethan Jordan]

This book features nice clear cut illustrations featuring a mix of watercolor and collage. The illustrations are fairly realistic save for the fact that the characters are portrayed with joints like a puppet. As for the story there is a little to unpack a boy who is afraid of going someplace wears a crocodile mask and all the other children there have masks and the boy in the end makes a friend and gets a new mask. Whether this place is school or somewhere else is not defined but in the end the mask trope seems strange and doesn't tie in to the story as much as I would want. It just seems to be there to be there. Overall this is a fine children's book with solid illustrations.