Snail Trail: A Journey Through Modern Art

　　In Snail Trail, children follow a colorful snail's silvery trail as he slides through eight modern pictures while searching for his very own "snail-portrait" — a piece of art that represents him. As he glides past famous works such as Pablo Picasso's "Maya in a Sailor Suit," Jackson Pollock's "Number 20," Mark Rothko's "White Centre," Salvador Dalí's "The Persistence of Memory," and Henri Matisse's "Goldfish," the friendly snail's words convey art concepts in the simplest of ways, making this book the perfect introduction to modern art for young children.

　　From School Library Journal

　　PreS-Gr 1–A snail with a colorful collage shell invites readers to follow him in search of a work of art: “There's a special picture I'd like you to see./A famous artist based it on me!” A silver trail leads the eye from page to page, past famous modernist pieces like Jackson Pollock's Number 20 and Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory, with the snail commenting very briefly on each one. At last they come to Matisse's The Snail, and the little guy explains how this abstract piece is meant to resemble him: “He's made my body a block of blue,/with my shell a ebook of every hue.” A final page shows a photo of the artist at work. While this whirlwind tour of modern art may be useful to teachers or docents working with young children, it does not stand alone. Without adult intervention, the story's complete lack of context results in nothing but a succession of pretty images. The pedestrian rhymes offer little in the way of art appreciation. Picture credits in tiny print inside the back cover provide the only identification for the famous works. In addition, the author undermines the very nature of Matisse's abstract Snail by suggesting that he modeled it directly upon an actual multicolored snail. Pass on this one.–Heidi Estrin, Feldman Children's Library at Congregation B'nai Israel, Boca Raton, FL(c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
 
Review
　　 ‘accessible and appealing’
　　‘A colourful and inspiring introduction to modern art for children.’
　　’A witty rhyming introduction to modern art for young children. . . The book is a delight, with something to offer all age groups from around three onwards.’
　　I loved Snail Trail a delightful book about Matisse's Snail. In simple rhyming text you follow its trail as it takes you through the book, introducing modern artists before finally finding its own portrait.
　　`accessible and appealing'
　　`A colourful and inspiring introduction to modern art for children.'
　　`A good book for discussing art with older nursery children.'
　　`Brightly illustrated . . . A wonderful, manageable read for any budding artists.'
　　'A witty rhyming introduction to modern art for young children. . . The book is a delight, with something to offer all age groups from around three onwards.'

Jo Saxton fell in love with great paintings when she first went to the National Gallery at the age of 12. Since then, she has become a professional art historian, gaining a Ph.D. in 17th-century Dutch painting and drawing, and is an expert on art and education for school-age children. Jo has worked for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Cambridge University, inner-city state schools and academies, and has also advised government.