SNAKE’S BIG MISTAKE

Young Snake experiences a familiar cycle: envy, rationalization, dishonesty, and contrition.

Working hard in art class (adorned with a big “Yay for Clay” banner), Snake has grand, perhaps unrealistic, hopes for the pot he has spent weeks making. But the finished product is less than amazing: in fact, he thinks it’s “the worst clay pot in art class!” But Mr. Owl, the art teacher, has accidentally attributed Snake’s pot to his friend Turtle and vice versa. Sneaky Snake appropriates Turtle’s superior creation—and the accolades the work earns from Snake’s teacher, parents, and classmates (one of whom, a small hedgehog, uses a wheelchair). That night, sleepless, Snake slithers to the kitchen—and deliberately knocks over the beautiful pot. Immediately remorseful, he glues it back together and resolves to “make things right.” But Turtle doesn’t think that an apology is enough to repair their broken friendship. Confessing to Mr. Owl, Snake asks for a second chance for Turtle to redo her project, and the teacher, praising Snake’s courage, offers them both a do-over—and Snake eventually learns a valuable lesson in friendship and honesty. The unpretentious art, mostly without hard lines, incorporates hues of blues and yellows, appropriately the colors of Turtle’s first pot. Many readers, young and old, will recognize Snake’s plight and admire his ultimate decision. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A relatable lesson in how to make amends after a misstep.