The Snail and the Whale facts for kids
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| Author | Julia Donaldson |
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| Audio read by | Imelda Staunton (on the audio cassette release) David Tennant, (on the compact disc release) |
| Illustrator | Axel Scheffler |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Genre | Children's fantasy |
| Publisher | Macmillan |
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Publication date
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5 September 2003 |
| Pages | 32 |
| ISBN | 978-0-330-51734-8 |
| OCLC | 51898638 |
The Snail and the Whale is a popular children's picture book. It was written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The book first came out in 2003.
This book has won several awards. These include the 2004 Early Years award for best pre-school book. It also won the 2005 Blue Peter award for Best Book to Read Aloud. In 2007, it received the Giverny award for Best Science Picture Book. The Snail and the Whale has been turned into an audiobook and a stage play. It was even translated into British Sign Language. In 2019, a film based on the book was released. Julia Donaldson has said this is one of her favorite books. She likes its rhyming style, which reminds her of books she enjoyed as a child.
Contents
Story of The Snail and the Whale
This section tells you what happens in the book. It's a story about friendship and adventure.
A Snail's Big Dream
A small sea snail lives on a smooth black rock. She lives with many other snails by the docks. But this snail dreams of seeing the whole wide world. She wants to travel far away from her rock.
One day, she writes a message with her snail trail. It says she needs a "lift wanted around the world." A kind black humpback whale hears her wish. He arrives one moonlit night. The whale offers to take her on an amazing journey.
Traveling the World
The snail and the whale become friends. They travel together and see many incredible sights. They swim past tall icebergs and fiery volcanoes. They see golden beaches and busy cities. Their journey is full of wonder.
A Big Problem for the Whale
One sunny morning, something goes wrong. The humpback whale gets confused. He hears the loud sound of racing speedboats. He accidentally swims into a bay. The tide then goes out, leaving the huge whale stuck on the sand. He is stranded and cannot move.
The Snail Saves the Day
The little snail wants to help her big friend. She crawls all the way to a nearby school. It is in the bay where the whale is stuck. On the blackboard, she writes "Save The Whale!" using her slimy trail.
The children and their teacher quickly understand. They call for help right away. Local people and the fire department arrive. They work together to keep the whale wet. They pour water on him until the tide comes back in.
Back Home and New Adventures
Finally, the tide turns. The snail and the whale can float again. They swim safely away from the bay. Together, they return to the snail's home at the dock. The other snails are amazed by their stories.
The whale then offers his tail to the other snails. All of them crawl on board. As the sun sets, the kind humpback whale takes the entire snail flock. They all set off to travel around the world. The nine snails sing loudly to the sea as the whale swims.
Awards and Recognition
The Snail and the Whale has won several important awards. These awards show how much people love the book.
- In 2004, it won the Early Years award for best pre-school book.
- In 2005, it won the Blue Peter award for Best Book to Read Aloud.
- In 2007, it received the Giverny award for Best Science Picture Book.
The audiobook version also won an award. It received the 2004 Spoken Book gold award. This was for the best audio for children aged six and under.
Different Ways to Enjoy the Story
The Snail and the Whale is available in many forms. You can enjoy the story in different ways.
Book Formats
The story comes as a paperback book. There is also a board book, which is good for younger children. You can find a jigsaw puzzle book and a coloring book. There is also an activity and sticker book.
Audio Versions
You can listen to the story as an audiobook. One version comes with an audio cassette. It is narrated by the English voice actor Imelda Staunton. Another audiobook comes with a CD. This one is narrated by the Scottish voice actor David Tennant. There is also a "Read Along" book with an audio tape.
Stage Play and Film
The theatre company Tall Stories turned the story into a stage play. It first toured in 2012. The play has traveled around the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.
In 2018, it was announced that BBC One and Magic Light Pictures would make a film. The Snail and the Whale film came out for Christmas 2019. The music was created by French musician Rene Aubry. Triggerfish Animation Studios did the animation. The 26-minute film aired on BBC One on December 25, 2019. It was also shown on January 1, 2020. The film was released on DVD in the UK on February 10, 2020.
Voice Actors in the Film
Many talented actors lent their voices to the film.
- Diana Rigg was the Narrator.
- Sally Hawkins was the Snail.
- Rob Brydon was the Whale.
- Cariad Lloyd was the Teacher.
- Arnold Brown and Emma Tate were the snail flock.
- Max Lang was the Fish in the Sea.
- William Barber, David Cummings, Charlotte-Davis Black, Emmy Dowers, and Mia Wilks were the school children.
