Tina Kügler

This book contains three vignette-style stories about a pair of friends. In the first one, Snail tells Worm how it’s the best day because others are having a great day, even if it wasn’t a good day for him.* Snail encounters a turtle in the second tale and mistakes the shell for a giant cave with a dragon inside. Finally, Snail asks Worm to tell him a story before bed.

This is another humorous book in the Snail & Worm series. I enjoy how the stories are more or less standalone so readers show more can pick up any title in the series in any order as well as picking up with any story within the book. My particular favorite in this title was the first one because I love the positivity of Snail’s outlook in viewing the day as great because others were happy, instead of being down because others had it better than them. An important lesson for all of us.

In general, Snail’s character is so funny as they are somewhat obtuse, but an over-the-top ridiculous state of unawareness nor is the humor mean-spirited about Snail’s perceptions. There were times I chuckled out loud with some of Snail’s comments; young readers will surely get a kick out of them also.

Illustrations fit the tone of the book well and help to amplify the story.

*Neither animal is actually given a gender, which is more refreshing than all the male-centric animal stories I’ve been reading lately, but less satisfying than if one or both was explicitly female, because sadly many of us will be ingrained like I was to assume male even though no gendered pronoun is used. show less

Siblings Fritz and Franny go to bed and each try to convince their pet dog Fred that their bunk is the preferred place to be, concocting imaginative roles for each, such as the top bunk being a sailing ship and the bottom bunk being a submarine. Which will Fred choose? And will Fritz and Franny ever stop bickering?

This was a very cute book that is just the right length and amount of text for kids who are just starting to advance past early readers but not quite ready for long chapter books show more yet. There are three short chapters in which the siblings have the usual bedtime routine/chaos familiar to any caregiver, try to convince Fred which bunk is preferable, and then suggest to each other a swap of bunks to prove their point. I really appreciate the part with the imaginative play, although the realization that each prefers their own bunk as best due to their own personalities was also a nice touch. The final story page reveal had me chuckle aloud. And the actual final page of the book includes a step-by-step tutorial of how to draw Fritz. show less

Tina Kugler, author of the silly and popular Snail and Worm easy readers, debuts a new Acorn series.
Fox siblings Fritz and Franny, and their dog Fred, need to go to bed. At least, their parent thinks so. They have other ideas. Once they're finally in bed, Franny in the (purple) top bunk and Fritz in the (orange) bottom bunk, the fun doesn't end... because now they're arguing about whose bed is best!

They imagine their bed as a castle, volcano, forest... but the fun quickly ends when their show more parent, looking even more exhausted, appears to order them to sleep, now! They're not done yet though - they decide to switch bunks. However, they quickly discover that while they love their own bunks, they don't love switching! The beds are too hot, too cold, too high, too low. Fortunately for them, they find the perfect bed where all three of them, including Fred the dog, can sleep comfortably.

While the parents are not definitely identified, the adult gray fox, matching Fritz, wears green pajamas and makes one brief appearance, reading the kids a bedtime story - and looking on helplessly when they turn it into a dance party. The adult red fox, matching Franny, wears a blue bathrobe and purple slippers and is present throughout, telling the kits it's time for bed, shooing them along, and coming back in, with increasing circles under their eyes, to tell them to quiet down and go back to sleep. It's pretty clearly implied that the gray fox is the dad and the red fox the mom - so one might want to know why all the bedtime rituals, not to mention discipline, are up to her!

Kugler's pictures are bright and cartoonish with cute little details, like acorns and paws carved onto the bunk bed. Franny and Fritz have long, sharp snouts and caregivers will appreciate watching their mom's patience diminish as the story continues.

Verdict: A funny addition to the Acorn line, although not necessarily a required purchase.

ISBN: 9781338561678; Published September 2020 by Scholastic; Purchased for the library show less

Two friends contemplate nature's ethereal beauties and enjoy spending time together.

I love how sweet this series is, both in the strong friendship shown throughout and in the love of nature in this particular title. Clouds, flower seeds, trees, and birds are just some of the wonderful things to reflect on as one goes about their day. The illustrations fit the book perfectly and draw the reader into the delightful scenes.

The text is relatively simple and short, but there are three distinct show more little stories contained with this book, making perfect resting places for reluctant readers and giving a sense of accomplishment to beginning readers for having read multiple chapters. show less