Snake's Big Mistake - by Sarah Kurpiel (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Snake loves art class--until his project is a disaster, and he makes a terrible mistake that hurts a friend. How will Snake fix his mistake? Acclaimed author-artist Sarah Kurpiel's Snake's Big Mistake is a picture book about art, friendship, apologizing, and forgiveness, for readers of The Rabbit Listened and The Book of Mistakes.

For weeks, Snake has looked forward to sculpting the most spectacular clay pot in art class. But when his pot breaks and his teacher confuses Snake's pot with Turtle's, Snake takes home Turtle's masterpiece to show his family and pretends that he made it. Now, Snake will have to craft a way to repair a broken pot and a broken friendship.

Combining a sensitive, thoughtful text and irresistible illustrations, acclaimed author-illustrator Sarah Kurpiel centers emotions that young readers can easily identify with, such as anxiety, guilt, regret, and embarrassment. Snake's Big Mistake--a companion to Elephant's Big Solo--is an excellent choice for social and emotional learning, as well as story-time sharing.

Review Quotes

"Working hard in art class, Snake['s] . . . finished product is less than amazing . . . 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. . . . Snake eventually learns a valuable lesson in friendship and honesty. . . . A relatable lesson in how to make amends after a misstep." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A thought-provoking picture book . . . Snake's eventual deception arises from his interest in the latest project in Mr. Owl's art class, the creation of clay pots. . . . The power of the story comes from showing how destructive lies and deceit can be." -- Booklist