The Slug and the Snail

The Travelers are a traditionally nomadic ethnic group in Ireland, who have not always been well accepted in the past. In The Snail and the Slug, a Traveler father tells a bedtime story to his child, who had not been invited to a birthday party. In the story, two slugs travel the world until they run into a crow, who asks where their home is? When they respond that they don’t have a home, she laughs at them.

The younger slug feels embarrassed and makes a shell, transforming into a snail. The older slug remains as he is. Soon, the two creatures grow apart because they were now different. When they meet the crow later, she asked about their homes. The snail said he has his shell, while the slug says the whole world is his home. With that, the two creatures traveled on becoming more aware of their commonalities.

This book with its gorgeous illustrations provides an opportunity to look into another culture and see the world through their perspective. That said, some children may need some help to understand the story, although it may open a door to good conversations about the treatment of others.