Parents' Guide to Escargot and the Search for Spring

This cute installment in the Escargot series has the lovable snail venturing out to experience spring, still clad in a pink knit winter hat instead of the trademark black beret. Escargot and the Search for Spring shows our hero being annoyed at being followed by big white bunny, mainly due to a fear that the reader will prefer a bunny over a snail. Escargot's mix of insecurity and arrogance makes for an interesting dynamic. And when Escargot slyly suggests kissing a snail as a way to conquer ennui, young readers will surely oblige.

Sydney Hanson's watercolor illustrations are wonderful, and the snail's running dialogue with the reader is funny and sprinkled with simple French phrases like "Oh là là" and "N'est ce pas?" Escargot insists that this is "my book" and doesn't want to give space to the fluffy intruder. The savvy snail even tells the reader a knock-knock joke, prompting the correct response. It's all a clever seasonal romp with Escargot delightfully in control.