Hilarious from start to finish. I loved Michael the Mind Reading Sausage Dog books but I think this was even more of a favourite. Snails vs slugs is a genius concept and Terrie Chilvers takes it BIG. Innovative, belly-laughing funny and clever themes and messages, I am definitely buying a copy of this for our library. Entertainment on a mega scale - kids will LOVE it!

The plot
We meet our two snail protagonists, Fergus and Shelby, as they sit on the garden fence of their best human pal, Angela Miller. Fergus, one of the smallest snails in the area, is remonstrating. Today it is about the slug spar built by their human neighbour, Mr Hamilton. He has even been seen feeding the slugs grapes! Across the land slugs are getting lots of positive coverage, and humans are being encouraged to let slugs eat their best crops. Even the UK Prime Minister is fighting the slugs corner. Rumour has it there is now a sign up at the local allotments banning snails.

The only person that now seems to love snails is Angela. She feeds them daily with a nice bowl of salad. She doesn't even mind when they nibble her fresh lettuce. At least Fergus, and Shelby who doesn't seem at all bothered by the slug issue, have their own little paradise.

Well, that is until Gavin the slug slithers by and announces their garden is going to be bulldozed to create a slug salad bar! In fact the back gardens in the street are all going to turned over to the slugs. One is even being made into a slug disco!

As the bulldozers are due to rumble in the following day, Fergus and Shelby have limited time to save their home.

Now, how might two snails on a mission get to change peoples minds when humans cant speak snail? The answer is they decide to get hold of the UK Prime Minister, the ultimate power in the land, and the one who can stop this travesty.

They, well, Shelby thinks up a plan, but they first need to get to 10 Downing Street to deliver their message. Shelby's plan to use the bus is dismissed as it would take way too long. Then Shelby suggests they use their Mega-Morphing abilities.

This ability is news to Fergus. But it seems when there was a lightning storm some days earlier, and the puddle they were in took a zap of power, the snails got the ability to change into anything, or anyone! All they have to do is say in their heads three times the name of the person or object they want to become, then they morph. As simple as that. Or maybe not as simple when you morph into humans and get legs!

From this startling discovery that Shelby forgot to mention, our two snails set off on a course of action that is anything but regular, and very very dangerous as well as funny. Their mission to save their garden quickly changes to one to save not only Angela, but also all of human kind from a fate worse than death– being turned into a lettuce!

The perps of this scary scheme are none other than the UK Prime Minster and her sidekick, the Deputy PM!

If I say any more I will end up on a slippery and slimy slope and reveal far too much. Needless to say, the best and tastiest parts of this lettuce adventure story are ahead of you. Oh, and be prepared to never look a lemon drizzle cake the same way ever again!

So, what did we think?

For anyone who has read and enjoyed Terrie's earlier adventures featuring two loveable canines, Michael (the Amazing Mind Reading Sausage Dog) and Stanley Big Dog, this series is a must. Read our review of Book 1 HERE. Read the review of Book 2 HERE.

I happily described the humour of those first books as slightly Laurel and Hardy and vauderville-esq.

These two new characters not only bring a new dynamic in motion and outlook, but also the ability to morph and interact with their world of humans in a very different way.

As a result, the humour is noticeably different, but equally as fun. The dynamic between Fergus and Shelby is more like a comedy soap opera couple from some years (possibly decades) back. And I found myself wondering how they get along and stay together. But together they are, for better or worse, and it does work well.

Fergus is definitely of the stress-head cum perfectionist kind. As such he worries needlessly. Shelby, however, is laid back and cleverer than she seems or knows. Yet she is also a bit naive and happy to muddle along and slither through on her own forgetful path. Opposites attract maybe? Well, at the end of the day it is the very interaction and responses to situations that bring the charm and opportunity for Terrie's humour style to shine through.



The plot is really fun, and had a great Sci-Fi adventure and Dr Who vibe. Which I think will be very appealing to the younger readers as well as the adults that will share the reading with them.

The artwork from Brenda is spot on. The cover is magical and clever. It took a while for Mrs H to spot the shadows on the cover. Within there are the charming snail images to each chapter heading, and plenty of other images throughout that lift the recipe to perfection.

Pleasingly, there are lots of little morals interwoven into this story. I'm sure with guidance from parents and teachers reading this book, the younger readers will come away as enriched as they are entertained.

So . . . . Crunch time.

As is our wont, Mrs H and I compared notes afterward we had read. Our conclusion is that this is a top buy. It is as refreshing as a newly pulled lettuce and will offer the young who is just starting to explore new books plenty of encouragement to explore, turn pages and to grow.

What a fun story! Imagine wanting to turn the whole world into snails! That's exactly what the evil characters are trying to do. Luckily, Fergus and Shelby are on the case and will do everything in their power to stop them. And what a power they have! Fergus and Shelby are so funny with teacher other and I laughed out loud several times.

Shape shifting snails, a dastardly plot and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this HILARIOUS book. The plot absolutely rockets along with a cast of archly drawn characters and a pair of heroes who will change the way you see the snails in your garden.

GASP as Fergus and Shelby shape-shift into crisp packets and custard.
BOO at the dastardly villainous slugs and their inspired evil plot.
CHEER as our heroes race...sort of....to save the day,

And then go feed your local snails some lettuce. They deserve it.

What a delightfully funny story for the younger reader. Such an original concept, with the two hero snail gaining the ability to transform into both living creatures and vegetables at will. Add in a plot by slugs to take over the world and mayhem is bound to ensue. I loved this and it would be great to see some further adventures?

This book starts with Fergus the snail trying his best to save his snail-kind, and to do so he's talking to an empty crisp packet. This – obviously – is actually his best friend Shelby, who has discovered they both have the power of mega-morphing, and can zap their forms into anything they can think of. Of course. It's what snails can do when their puddle has been hit by lightning. Anyway, Fergus decides the only thing to do is invade 10 Downing Street, talk to the powerful, organised and efficient (oh bless the sarcasm) Prime Minister, and get their kind saved. Saved? Yes, because every human is completely and utterly biased against snails and pro slugs, and the garden they live in has three days before it stops becoming their only haven in a world of slug spas, slug silent discos and so much else.

There is very much a wrong way to do bonkers – throwing everything onto the page, and not caring whether it sticks or not. This definitely is the right way to do bonkers, and with characters turning into a gloop of custard, and a rather unique seaside postcard, this is definitely bonkers. There's little better description – and yet this all follows logic, while keeping a thoroughly dramatic narrative alive. I don't know how much the Prime Minister and constant talk of lettuces was inspired by certain British tabloids, but either way this is joyous stuff – the kind of story you'd never in your wildest dreams expect to find when waking up, but one that would send you to sleep at the end of the day with a firm smile on your face.

It clearly isn't finished – the Prime Minister clearly not ever powerful, organised or efficient enough to turn everyone so against snails and so in favour of their cousins – but this is one example of a book where the sequel can't come quick enough. It's close enough to five stars to deserve nothing else.

I mean, this had my attention by the title alone. And the cover - that is really striking, and will definitely grab any child's attention.

This book is proof as to why I like reading kids books even though I'm in my 30s. As much as I might enjoy them, sometimes I don't want a thriller or a murder or relationship drama, sometimes I just want world-saving snails. And I had just finished a really emotional book beforehand, and thought this would be a real uplifter.

The formatting wasn't perfect on my e-arc but I did see some illustrations which were lovely. I'm a big fan of illustrations in books and these really helped the story come to life.

I would have liked a little bit more background at the beginning, because it does go straight into them being able to shape-shift; it would have been nice to see what had happened for greater context, but I doubt younger readers will be fussy about that.

It's a very quick book to read. I read it in an hour or so, but even younger readers I think will get sucked in and speed through it. I've got children in my family aged 5-13 and I could definitely see the younger ones enjoying this. It's odd and silly and quirky and fun.

I think there's definitely scope for a sequel, perhaps even a crime-fighting snail series?