Published by Simon & Schuster, 2024.

Gail the snail has always been told not to dream too big or reach too far, but Gail is not your average snail, and she has plans to be the first . . . SNAIL IN SPACE! We join Gail on her stellar adventure and discover the magic of reaching for the stars and giving it your all.

We’ve previously met Gail in Rachel and Nadia’s fabulous 2021 picture book, Slug in Love (she was the unwilling love-interest of the protagonist), but now, in Snail in Space, we go back to Gail’s youth and discover her backstory.

Gail is a snail determined to carve her own path through life. She has ambition and the drive to see it through. The space camp training sequence, where Gail pushes herself physically and intellectually, is my favourite in the book.

The book’s rhyming text is an absolute joy to read aloud and the glorious illustrations are a visual treat, none more so than Gail herself. She’s fabulously striking with her leopard-print shell and vibrant red-rimmed eyes.

The book’s themes of self-belief, perseverance and overcoming adversity are powerful messages for young readers. Gail is a trailblazer and an inspiration for other snails in the book, and her story wil help empower children too.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 3+

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for sending me this book to review.