by Pierre Coetzee and Leighton Jones, Illustrated by Shân Fischer (Human & Rousseau, R140)
Authors Pierre Coetzee and Leighton Jones have teamed up again, this time producing a children’s book that is a three-in-one treat for kids.
Snails Trails and Other Tales uses three different stories to entertain and develop children on different levels.
In the first story Herman and Paxton are snails, and friends, who meet on the internet. Each of them lives on the opposite end of the vegetable garden.
Herman in a cabbage and Paxton in a head of lettuce. Herman decides to visit Paxton, a journey that takes him a year! He comes across all kinds of interesting insects who also live in the garden.
Along the way children learn all about the months of the year; and different insects, vegetables and colours.
In the second story, Mox and Kat are stranded on an island. They decide to go about collecting food.
On Monday they find one banana tree, on Tuesday they find two apple trees… and so the story goes as they accumulate food for the duration of their stay there.
This story teaches children the days of the week, about different types of fruit and basic numbers/counting.
In the final story, it’s Benny the mouse’s birthday and he and his family need to gather enough puff to blow out the candles on his cupcake. While not presenting as much detail as the previous two stories, this one is more on the fun side of things.
But children are taught about family and family relations/connections, and the family tree.
Snails Trails and Other Tales targets children aged from 3 to 6 years and adequately introduces this lot to basic concepts in a fun and informal setting.
Shân Fischer’s bright illustrations, with an animated feel, are a bonus when it comes to attracting the eye and giving the characters a sense of personality.