The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

I don't have a gambling addiction but second-hand bookstores will likely bankrupt me. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson, Illustrated by Axel Scheffler is one of the second-hand books that I bought at a book store next door. You know, the place  I usually visit to get a printout for 10 Rupees but end up spending 100s to 1000s of Rupees on books.

The sea snail slithered all over the rock
And gazed at the sea and the ships in the dock.
And as she gazed she sniffed and sighed.
“The sea is deep and the world is wide!
How I long to sail,”
Said the tiny snail.

I think this is the fourth or fifth book by Julia Donaldson that we have read and it's a little surprising how versatile an author she is. And unlike some of the earlier books, this is a rhyming book and it sounds great to read aloud. This isn't something Luffy is capable of doing or appreciates us doing at the moment but that day isn't too far. I'll have to start looking for Indian books or books in local languages which are similarly rhymy.

And I love Axel Schefflers' work, maybe more than Julias' work, because of the easter eggs he draws into everything. I downloaded a free e-book that Axel Scheffler worked on that will likely show up on this blog soon.

P.S. The book caught Luffys' eye in the first place because of a single panel in the entire book with multiple vehicles.