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40 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2016
3 people are currently reading
521 people want to read
About the author
Sean Ferrell
7 books126 followersSean Ferrell lives and works in New York City. He writes novels, middle grade sci-fi, and picture books.
His most recent work is The Sinister Secrets of Singe .
His novels include Man In The Empty Suit and Numb: A Novel.
His picture books are I Don't Like Koala and The Snurtch.
Sean has been published in several literary journals, including The Adirondack Review which awarded him the Fulton Prize for his short story "Building an Elephant."
His most recent work is The Sinister Secrets of Singe .
His novels include Man In The Empty Suit and Numb: A Novel.
His picture books are I Don't Like Koala and The Snurtch.
Sean has been published in several literary journals, including The Adirondack Review which awarded him the Fulton Prize for his short story "Building an Elephant."
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
November 18, 2016
My children will still let me read picture books to them, even though they both love to read on their own daily. I only review what I consider to be the very best picture books. This certainly qualifies. This is a brilliant and important book! In presenting various unacceptable behaviors and unpleasant moods as attributed to a monster, this becomes a funny, relatable book for children. We all have a Snurtch to tame and it is so, so important to find ways to let children know that. 5 stars
April 24, 2016
An excellent, entertaining, easy-to-relate-to metaphor for grumpiness, anger, fatigue, lack of focus, and all the other moods that can overtake young kids and be difficult to understand and control. Delightfully told and illustrated, this book will comfort, entertain, and elicit loud guffaws of laughter!
September 11, 2016
Now I know who to blame....
September 10, 2016
Kids will probably love this book - the drawings, monsters, misbehaving children. I hope they embrace it as a silly monster story or they read it with an adult who can explain it in context. Because on a deeper level, this book bothered me.
Really bothered me.
The little girl does mean, bratty things and it gets explained away as her invisible monster Snurtch. It is HIS fault she stole the crayons. I sort of get where that is coming from, we all act out and have bad moments, blah-blah-blah. I get that. But for kids to blame their bad behavior on an imagined monster LIVING INSIDE THEM...just doesn't strike me as mentally or emotionally healthy. Kids need to learn responsibility for their actions/emotions. Not blame it on a Snurtch.
I tried to relax and accept it as a harmless story but then I turned to the final page. An illustration of a classroom filled with cute kids calmly doing schoolwork...surrounded by their "imaginary" monsters. Lurking on their shoulders, sitting on their desks, stroking their hair. Just waiting to possess the unsuspecting victims and release chaos. That's just plain creepy. And not in the fun way.
Full disclaimer: I don't have kids so what do I know? Maybe I have no sense of humor. But geesh. Have I mentioned that this book bothered me??!!!!!
Really bothered me.
The little girl does mean, bratty things and it gets explained away as her invisible monster Snurtch. It is HIS fault she stole the crayons. I sort of get where that is coming from, we all act out and have bad moments, blah-blah-blah. I get that. But for kids to blame their bad behavior on an imagined monster LIVING INSIDE THEM...just doesn't strike me as mentally or emotionally healthy. Kids need to learn responsibility for their actions/emotions. Not blame it on a Snurtch.
I tried to relax and accept it as a harmless story but then I turned to the final page. An illustration of a classroom filled with cute kids calmly doing schoolwork...surrounded by their "imaginary" monsters. Lurking on their shoulders, sitting on their desks, stroking their hair. Just waiting to possess the unsuspecting victims and release chaos. That's just plain creepy. And not in the fun way.
Full disclaimer: I don't have kids so what do I know? Maybe I have no sense of humor. But geesh. Have I mentioned that this book bothered me??!!!!!
August 18, 2019
"Ruthie has a problem at school," the narrator of The Snurtch tells us, and it isn't her fellow students, her classroom, or her academic subjects. No, her problem is the titular Snurtch. A nasty individual, one who isn't good at taking instruction, but who excels at making itself unpleasant to her classmates, the Snurtch follows Ruthie wherever she goes, often getting her into trouble in class and making her unpopular on the playground. When Ruthie shares a picture of the Snurtch in class, the response of her classmates, together with the knowledge that they too are troubled by such creatures, reconciles her to her school life...
The second collaboration from author Sean Ferrell and illustrator Charles Santoso, following upon I Don't Like Koala , this entertaining picture-book addresses an all-too-common problem in young children - the inability to control feelings of anger, aggression, and spite - in an innovative and creative fashion. Here these feelings are externalized, made into a creature known as the Snurtch, allowing young readers to visualize the problem, and to see how bad behavior is as much a problem for the wrongdoer, as for those who must deal with her. I liked the way that Santoso depicted the Snurtches here, showing them in vibrant but semi-transparent color, as this emphasizes their almost ghost-like, haunting quality. I would recommend The Snurtch to anyone looking for children's stories that address negative emotions, and how to deal with them.
The second collaboration from author Sean Ferrell and illustrator Charles Santoso, following upon I Don't Like Koala , this entertaining picture-book addresses an all-too-common problem in young children - the inability to control feelings of anger, aggression, and spite - in an innovative and creative fashion. Here these feelings are externalized, made into a creature known as the Snurtch, allowing young readers to visualize the problem, and to see how bad behavior is as much a problem for the wrongdoer, as for those who must deal with her. I liked the way that Santoso depicted the Snurtches here, showing them in vibrant but semi-transparent color, as this emphasizes their almost ghost-like, haunting quality. I would recommend The Snurtch to anyone looking for children's stories that address negative emotions, and how to deal with them.
October 30, 2016
I have a Snurtch. We all have Snurtches, but some of us have bigger ones than others. This is a wonderful tale that will help children who may have ADHD or other behavioral issues see that they are not alone with their problems, that they're not inferior, and maybe even help them learn to cope with them. This is not an instructional book, however, and that's to it's benefit--every child will enjoy following along with this fun and silly story and be entertained as well as learn from it-- what more could you want from a great picture book? Highly recommend.
September 17, 2016
A snurtch is Ruthie's problem at school and it seems to be a growing problem. Interesting story and illustrations are colorful but couldn't tell if it was Ruthie, or her imagination that was the snurtch until the end when they all developed one. The illustrator was very imaginative.
August 8, 2018
This was great.
January 10, 2017
Whether you are 5 or 50, we all have a Snurtch that we must contend with and control. In Sean Ferrell’s THE SNURTCH, Ruthie is struggling to manage her Snurtch, a wonderful personification of her bad temper and poor behavior. Ruthie’s Snurtch causes big trouble at school...trouble for which Ruthie takes the blame.
Ferrell’s book offers a platform for discussing those moments when we are not at our best. It is much easier to assess our own actions if we can blame our poor choices on a Snurtch, an ever present goblin of sorts that causes trouble. Ruthie’s Snurtch pulls her hair and makes her grumpy. He makes her run in the classroom and push her classmates. When she burps back at the Snurtch or returns his tongue out face, Ruthie ends up alone on the playground or relegated to the teacher’s time-out chair.
Who can’t relate to being blamed for something you didn’t do? The Snurtch did it!
But as Ruthie looks hard at the Snurtch, Ferrell finds a unique plot twist to show that Ruthie is ready to claim responsibility for the Snurtch. Ruthie transforms the Snurtch from a scapegoat for her misdeeds to a safe way to say “I’m sorry.”
THE SNURTCH is a wonderful, whimsical, and humorous character, conjured up with the same care as the imaginary bunny Harvey who landed Jimmy Steward in a looney bin – lucky for Ruthie, she found a way not only to own her Snurtch, but she found classmates who have Snurtch issues of their own.
On Writing
Ferrell has taken a universal childhood problem – managing our behavior and impulses – and wrapped this complex problem up in simple straightforward text. His plot is complex, which keeps the pages turning and the story interesting – but the easy flowing text meets the readers at just the right level.
What could be simpler and yet more provoking than an opening line that reads “Ruthie has a problem at school”?
What I find most intriguing about this book is the wonderful marriage between the author’s words and the illustrations. While the book is illustrated with Ruthie and her classmates in fun and realistic artwork, the troublesome Snurtch is a crayon scribble that interacts with the other drawings like the cartoon Roger Rabbit walking amidst live action scenes and actors. The result is a clever visual representation of how the enigma of our mood and behavior can have a drastic effect on our everyday life.
Read Ferrell’s wonderful picture book, and get a grip on your Snurtch.
Ferrell’s book offers a platform for discussing those moments when we are not at our best. It is much easier to assess our own actions if we can blame our poor choices on a Snurtch, an ever present goblin of sorts that causes trouble. Ruthie’s Snurtch pulls her hair and makes her grumpy. He makes her run in the classroom and push her classmates. When she burps back at the Snurtch or returns his tongue out face, Ruthie ends up alone on the playground or relegated to the teacher’s time-out chair.
Who can’t relate to being blamed for something you didn’t do? The Snurtch did it!
But as Ruthie looks hard at the Snurtch, Ferrell finds a unique plot twist to show that Ruthie is ready to claim responsibility for the Snurtch. Ruthie transforms the Snurtch from a scapegoat for her misdeeds to a safe way to say “I’m sorry.”
THE SNURTCH is a wonderful, whimsical, and humorous character, conjured up with the same care as the imaginary bunny Harvey who landed Jimmy Steward in a looney bin – lucky for Ruthie, she found a way not only to own her Snurtch, but she found classmates who have Snurtch issues of their own.
On Writing
Ferrell has taken a universal childhood problem – managing our behavior and impulses – and wrapped this complex problem up in simple straightforward text. His plot is complex, which keeps the pages turning and the story interesting – but the easy flowing text meets the readers at just the right level.
What could be simpler and yet more provoking than an opening line that reads “Ruthie has a problem at school”?
What I find most intriguing about this book is the wonderful marriage between the author’s words and the illustrations. While the book is illustrated with Ruthie and her classmates in fun and realistic artwork, the troublesome Snurtch is a crayon scribble that interacts with the other drawings like the cartoon Roger Rabbit walking amidst live action scenes and actors. The result is a clever visual representation of how the enigma of our mood and behavior can have a drastic effect on our everyday life.
Read Ferrell’s wonderful picture book, and get a grip on your Snurtch.
October 22, 2016
This is my favourite picture book this week! The Snurtch describes perfectly those angry, grumpy, rotten feelings that can surprise us all. The illustrations are just perfect as well, they add visual understanding and a touch of humour while being beautiful as well. LOVE. This would be perfect to read-aloud to children just starting school.
May 11, 2017
Remember when you use to act up when you were little? Well it was not your fault - the Snurtch made you do it! Everyone has a Snurtch as a child (and I have met some adults who never let their Snurtch go).
October 5, 2016
I had mixed feelings about this book. I liked the message that sometimes it is hard to be good. I didn't like that everyone had an inner monster and putting the blame of bad behavior on the monster.
March 10, 2019
Like 3.5...sounds like ruthie needs some discipline!
November 1, 2021
Η αλήθεια είναι πως όλους μας συντροφεύει ένα τζάτζαλο. Το θέμα είναι να το αναγνωρίσουμε & να προσπαθήσουμε.
December 7, 2017
Dang, so that is what it is called? A Snurtch! Amazing illustrations. The eyes are a bit spooky; glass-like a dolls' eyes. You can feel this childs' emotions. A very fun book.
November 18, 2016
Ruthie is having some trouble at school. It's not because of her schoolwork, not because of her classmates, it's the snurtch. It seems all that the snurtch wants to do is get Ruthie in trouble at school; whether it be throwing pencils, making rude noises, or ruining her classmates artwork. Ruthie finally decides enough is enough, and shares with the class her drawing of the snurtch, explaining that it's the one causing her to get in trouble. After sharing this with the class, the snurtch still has its troublesome moments, but it learns to control itself a little better. By the end of the book Ruthie realizes that she's not alone, everyone has their own snurtch that they have to deal with.
Activity: Have a brief discussion with the kids as to what the snurtch represents, our troublesome thoughts and behaviors. Each of the kids can use crayons to draw their own snurtch on a piece of paper. What does it look like? What sort of trouble does their snurtch get into? The kids can share their snurtches in small groups and explain what their snurtch does.
Ferrell, S., & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Activity: Have a brief discussion with the kids as to what the snurtch represents, our troublesome thoughts and behaviors. Each of the kids can use crayons to draw their own snurtch on a piece of paper. What does it look like? What sort of trouble does their snurtch get into? The kids can share their snurtches in small groups and explain what their snurtch does.
Ferrell, S., & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
October 23, 2016
Summary
The Snurtch is about a little girl named Ruthie who has a Snurtch follow her around all day. This Snurtch makes her blurt out, tear other students artwork and do other rude things to her classmates. When her teacher tells her to stop doing the rude things she is doing, Ruthie blames the Snurtch. During an art project Ruthie draws her Snurtch and shares it with her classmates. Her classmates recognize the Snurtch as the one who has been doing all of those rude things. Ruthie finds out that everyone has a Snurtch, it's just learning how to control it.
Activity
This would be a good book to use when teaching kindergartners about the rules. Start by reviewing or teaching the rules on the board. Next read the book. Ask the students what are some of the things the Snurtch made Ruthie do and what rules was she breaking. Finally have the students draw their own Snurtch and then post their pictures next to your rules poster.
Citation
Ferrell, S., & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.
The Snurtch is about a little girl named Ruthie who has a Snurtch follow her around all day. This Snurtch makes her blurt out, tear other students artwork and do other rude things to her classmates. When her teacher tells her to stop doing the rude things she is doing, Ruthie blames the Snurtch. During an art project Ruthie draws her Snurtch and shares it with her classmates. Her classmates recognize the Snurtch as the one who has been doing all of those rude things. Ruthie finds out that everyone has a Snurtch, it's just learning how to control it.
Activity
This would be a good book to use when teaching kindergartners about the rules. Start by reviewing or teaching the rules on the board. Next read the book. Ask the students what are some of the things the Snurtch made Ruthie do and what rules was she breaking. Finally have the students draw their own Snurtch and then post their pictures next to your rules poster.
Citation
Ferrell, S., & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York, New York: Simon & Schuster.
November 12, 2016
Ruthie is a spunky girl who has difficulty behaving in school all because of “the Snurtch.” It makes her scribble, and takes her seat so she can’t sit down, and burps in class among other obnoxious things. When given the chance to draw in art class Ruthie draws a picture of her Snurtch and all of the other kids identify with her drawing. They all have a Snurtch of their own. It’s a fun twist on learning to turn misbehavior into positive behavior with a little understanding.
Activity: If you had a Snurtch what would it look like and do? Draw your own Snurtch. Explain how your Snurtch misbehaves and how you can get it to behave instead. Share your Snurtch with the class and tell what it does and what you do. Hang the pictures on the wall so students can see other Snurtch's and as a teacher you can use the students ideas as a teaching opportunity to reinforce good decisions and behavior choices.
Ferrell, S. (2016). The Snurtch. New York, NY: Atheneum books for young readers.
Activity: If you had a Snurtch what would it look like and do? Draw your own Snurtch. Explain how your Snurtch misbehaves and how you can get it to behave instead. Share your Snurtch with the class and tell what it does and what you do. Hang the pictures on the wall so students can see other Snurtch's and as a teacher you can use the students ideas as a teaching opportunity to reinforce good decisions and behavior choices.
Ferrell, S. (2016). The Snurtch. New York, NY: Atheneum books for young readers.
November 10, 2016
Summary: This one little girl named Ruthie has a problem in school but it is no ordinary problem. Her problem is that she has a Snurtch and this snurtch makes her do bad things even when she doesn't want to. One day in class, they were drawing something and she drew her and the snurtch and finally stood up to him. Her snurtch still does bad things but is also sorry sometimes. She came to the conclusion that other kids have their own snurtch.
Activity: Have the children draw their own snurch and ask them what things he/she does that is bad. Make sure you explain what bad things this Snurtch makes you do and why you think the Snurtch makes you do those things. Do you think that those actions are wrong and what can you do to change those actions?
APA Citation: Ferrell, S. & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Activity: Have the children draw their own snurch and ask them what things he/she does that is bad. Make sure you explain what bad things this Snurtch makes you do and why you think the Snurtch makes you do those things. Do you think that those actions are wrong and what can you do to change those actions?
APA Citation: Ferrell, S. & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
June 10, 2019
I felt like the message of this book was a little... gray? Like, on the one hand I appreciate that it's trying to explain bad moods in a metaphorical way, but I'm afraid that the metaphor might go right over kids' heads and instead provide them with a scapegoat for the things they do wrong themselves. It tries to teach them how to put a silly name to their feelings, but in so doing I think it teaches them the exact opposite of taking responsibility for their actions. I've worked at a daycare since January 2017, and both years, right after St. Patrick's Day, I hear handfuls of kids say, "It wasn't me, it was the leprechaun!" whenever they do something wrong. I can just see them now after reading The Snurtch, saying, "It wasn't me...!" 2/5 stars for some good artwork, but I think the moral of the story is lost in translation.
November 14, 2016
Summary:
Ruthie is a girl who has a problem at school. That problem does not have anything to do with school or the students, it has to do with the Snurtch. The Snurtch is constantly getting Ruthie into trouble and makes it very hard for Ruthie to concentrate during school. However, Ruthie finally finds a way to put an end to the Snurtch's mayhem, but how?
Activity:
I think it would be fun to have all the children draw their own Snurtch after reading the book. Then I hang them up around the classroom for everyone to see what everyone's Snurtch looks like. I think this would be a different and fun activity for the children and would really get their imagination going.
Citation:
Ferrell, S., & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
Ruthie is a girl who has a problem at school. That problem does not have anything to do with school or the students, it has to do with the Snurtch. The Snurtch is constantly getting Ruthie into trouble and makes it very hard for Ruthie to concentrate during school. However, Ruthie finally finds a way to put an end to the Snurtch's mayhem, but how?
Activity:
I think it would be fun to have all the children draw their own Snurtch after reading the book. Then I hang them up around the classroom for everyone to see what everyone's Snurtch looks like. I think this would be a different and fun activity for the children and would really get their imagination going.
Citation:
Ferrell, S., & Santoso, C. (2016). The Snurtch. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
September 19, 2016
I had mixed feelings after reading this book.
On one hand I liked the subject-addressing our mistakes, acknowledging that they happen, and sometimes our emotions get the better of us, and we can't always be perfect.
On the other hand I felt this gave the characters a scapegoat-their actions could be blamed on this creature that followed them around and makes them act out. It seemed like it took some of the responsibility for their actions away from the characters.
I did like the illustrations, and how the main character's peers were understanding, and forgiving of mistakes.
On one hand I liked the subject-addressing our mistakes, acknowledging that they happen, and sometimes our emotions get the better of us, and we can't always be perfect.
On the other hand I felt this gave the characters a scapegoat-their actions could be blamed on this creature that followed them around and makes them act out. It seemed like it took some of the responsibility for their actions away from the characters.
I did like the illustrations, and how the main character's peers were understanding, and forgiving of mistakes.
December 13, 2016
I've read this to every class this week. It really gets them talking and thinking. But we all agree, we all have a Snurtch. And when that Snurtch acts up then we have to say we're sorry.
I think every teacher wants a copy in their classroom.
I started reading it to my older students but the most receptive students were the three year olds. "Hey, everyone has a Snurtch!" said one little guy. Another said, when we looked at Ruthie's drawing, "Ruthie is the Snurtch!" And then we all talked about what color our own Snurtch was.
Ruthie is the Snurtch.
I think every teacher wants a copy in their classroom.
I started reading it to my older students but the most receptive students were the three year olds. "Hey, everyone has a Snurtch!" said one little guy. Another said, when we looked at Ruthie's drawing, "Ruthie is the Snurtch!" And then we all talked about what color our own Snurtch was.
Ruthie is the Snurtch.
February 4, 2018
Ruthie's snurtch causes her all sorts of problems at school. It gets here in trouble with classmates and teachers.
One day, she draws the snurtch and the other kids recognize it. Ruthie learns everyone has a snurtch they need to tame.
Helpful metaphor for kids who feel like Paul in Romans 7:15 (I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.).
I think you need to be careful to not let kids totally blame the snurtch, though. They're each responsible for their own snurtch.
One day, she draws the snurtch and the other kids recognize it. Ruthie learns everyone has a snurtch they need to tame.
Helpful metaphor for kids who feel like Paul in Romans 7:15 (I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.).
I think you need to be careful to not let kids totally blame the snurtch, though. They're each responsible for their own snurtch.
September 11, 2016
This is a fun and engaging picture book that many young readers will be able to relate to. "Ruthie has a problem at school. It is not the students. It is not the classroom. It is not the reading or the writing or the math. It is the Snurtch." All sorts of misbehavior is due to Ruthie's Snurtch. Everyone has there own Snurtch. Acknowledging it seems to be the first step towards getting it under control. The digital illustrations are adorable.
November 19, 2016
ages 4-6
This book is so great. Ruthie hates school - not because of the people or the work, but because her Snurtch is always there with her. He throws pencils, he destroys George's artwork, and he makes weird noises at recess. The Snurtch is the personification of Ruthie's emotions coming out. When she's unable to control herself, it's the Snurtch. She soon realizes that others have one too.
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/11/cyb...
This book is so great. Ruthie hates school - not because of the people or the work, but because her Snurtch is always there with her. He throws pencils, he destroys George's artwork, and he makes weird noises at recess. The Snurtch is the personification of Ruthie's emotions coming out. When she's unable to control herself, it's the Snurtch. She soon realizes that others have one too.
http://www.momsradius.com/2016/11/cyb...
October 28, 2016
It was a cute idea, and I really loved the illustration style.
I didn't love that everything was The Snurtch's fault, and nothing was the kids' fault. Kids are squirrelly sometimes, but letting them blame it on imaginary monsters instead of accepting that sometimes they have bad moods isn't necessarily the greatest idea.
I didn't love that everything was The Snurtch's fault, and nothing was the kids' fault. Kids are squirrelly sometimes, but letting them blame it on imaginary monsters instead of accepting that sometimes they have bad moods isn't necessarily the greatest idea.
February 15, 2017
My favorite part was when all the kids realized that the Snurtch was the one causing all the trouble in the classroom. I wonder about the coping mechanism of needing an outside thing to blame as opposed to accepting responsibility for one's own actions. Yet each child found they had their own Snurtch and drew a picture of it, so I suppose that resolves it.
June 6, 2023
This is an interesting story that makes one think, do I have a cranky Snurtch like Ruthie does? The Snurtch represents rudeness and bad attitude and uncontrolled emotions - which we all have at one time or another. Ruthie had trouble controlling her emotions, which affected others around her, until she learned to handle them better. Great illustrations.
February 6, 2019
Loved it. The illustrations are perfect. The Snurtch is that creature that sometimes makes your day go bad - makes you throw your crayons, fight over toys, or any number of unacceptable behaviors that sometimes seem out of our control. One little girl finally draws hers, and shares it with her class.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews