How to Party Like a Snail

Party animal Snail loves fetes’ quiet elements, among them confetti and “whispering meaningful wishes to cakes.” Parties’ more aurally expansive components, though, such as blasting boom-box tunes, drive him straight into his shell with a “SHHOOMP!” He still takes part (“This is my jam!” emanates from within the party hat–topped shell), but with others so certain that loud is fun, Snail soon begins to wonder if he’s alone in finding peace in the quiet. When Snail stops getting invited out—even Stump receives more invitations—the gastropod changes tacks, throwing himself a solo shindig of ragingly placid proportions. He warms a pot of milk (“a hug in a mug!”), lip-syncs to his fave lullabies, and then—“to hype up the hush”—rolls himself into “a blanket burrito.” But something’s still missing, a role filled by Stump with punny alacrity that turns quickly to quiet friendship: “your SHHHindig is filled with all my favorite things!” Hrab combines speech bubbles and narrative lines, foregrounding Snail’s internality, while Collier makes smart use of calm colors, quirky details, and expressive faces, resulting in a wildly charming, earnestly rendered “SHHHellebration of the SHHHush.” Ages 4–7. (Sept.)