Shape, sound, and story are the key elements in this alliterative picture book, which tells a silly, suspenseful saga with a surprise ending that will make kids laugh and learn. A sleek slug slowly swaggers and slithers up the slant of a slope, ignoring the warning screams of sparrow, spider, swallowtail, snickering skunk, scolding squirrel--until, too late, the slimy slug discovers that the sly, slippery slope was a sham. The s words are wonderfully sensuous and precise, never forced, and the glowing, superrealistic pictures in acrylics and colored pencil on watercolor paper make us see the sand, leaves, and natural creatures from the perspective of the sauntering slug and the bug shivering on a stem and the spider scurrying down its strand. Kids will welcome the suggestion on the last page--after they've enjoyed the story--that they go back and find the creatures and the S shapes hidden in the pictures. (Reviewed May 1, 1996)

All the other animals warn a slug, alliteratively (''Stop!' screamed a sparrow, shattering the silence'), not to go up the bumpy brown slope, but he is oblivious. He doesn't realize that the slope is a toad's back until it's too late for the 'succulent slug.' Double-page spreads provide detailed, close-up views of the flora and fauna of a slug's world, but the alliteration, at times labored and contrived, becomes wearing.

This duo collaborated on the alliterative Four Famished Foxes and Fosdyke (1995, not reviewed); here, a supercilious little slug struggles up a bumpy slope blocking the path through its woodland domain. <p> This duo collaborated on the alliterative Four Famished Foxes and Fosdyke (1995, not reviewed); here, a supercilious little slug struggles up a bumpy slope blocking the path through its woodland domain. Ignoring the warnings of other forest denizens (all creatures with names beginning with the letter s--sparrow, spider, swallowtail, skink, stinkbug, and squirrel), it reaches the summit, only to be devoured by the toad it has unwittingly climbed. This bit of whimsy is made memorable by the crescendo of suspense built by the relentlessly alliterative text, the ground- level illustrations of flora and fauna (highly realistic except for the self-satisfied visage of the snail and the toad licking its lips), and the presence of the other animals and S-shapes to search for in the pictures. It's fun for readers who aren't ready for Graeme Base's Animalia (1987) and great reinforcement of sound- letter correspondence for initial s and sh (both are used; soft c is not). Teachers will hope that a ``big book'' version is in the works for the classroom. (Picture book. 4-7)</p> "

A self-satisfied slug ignores its friends' alliterative warnings as it proudly climbs a slope that turns out to be the back of a hungry toad: """"Such a shock, such a shame. Such a succulent slug!"""" Ages 4-9. (May)

K-Gr 2--A slug senses a slope and saunters on up, against the advice of a sparrow, a spider, and a skink, among others, and meets with a sudden, spontaneous demise. Such is the life of a slug told with a multitude of common and not so common "S" words (shantung). The bold-faced text is short but not simple. "Seldom swerving or straggling or swaying or skewing, the smug slug shambled on." Despite this boggle of words, youngsters will likely continue reading, having been caught up in this snaillike mollusk's serendipitous fate. Realistically detailed, earth-toned illustrations focus attention on each scene. Varied animals' perspectives reign throughout while the bumpy surface that the slug climbs remains a mystery until the end. In addition to the animals named in the text, other "S" creatures are shown. Plus, to ensure close scrutiny and multiple readings, an "S" shape has been hidden in each picture. This slug is so appealing and full of personality that it will certainly garner sympathy. The cover alone, where the slug's expression is indeed smug, is enough to get readers to select this book.--Martha Topol, Traverse Area District Library, Traverse City, MI