The Slug and the Snail by Oein Debhairduin
An USBBY Outstanding International Book 2025
An illustrated own-voices fable about self-acceptance and pride from a member of the Irish Traveller nomadic ethnic minority
Drawn from the Irish Traveller oral storytelling tradition, DeBhairduin's tale is a gentle allegory about difference, self-acceptance and different ways of seeing the world.
Two slugs travel happily together as brothers, until they meet a crow who shows them that they have no home. Ashamed, one of the slugs decides to make himself a home, and calls himself snail.
The brothers grow apart and become suspicious of each other. The slug with no shell-house feels ashamed until he learns to see that the very road he travels is his home, and so he shall never be homeless.The happy slug no longer sees himself through the judging eyes of others, but proudly asserts his place in the world and the two brothers travel happily together once more.
"Beautifully illustrated"
* The Irish Times *"A beautifully illustrated picture book ... It’s a clever story about acceptance and celebrating, as the book says, “similarities and common connection”."
-- Sarah Webb * Irish Independent *
"A warm story of difference and commonality."
* Sunday Independent *"In melodic prose, DeBhairduin weaves a tale about a time when no snails existed in the world ... Anima’s radiant illustrations illuminate fine details within vast landscapes in a gentle work about perspective and connection."
* Publishers Weekly *"A beautifully illustrated refreshing modern-day Aesop’s Fable ... This sweet and unique picture book is rooted in the oral tradition of the Irish Traveller community and gently explores themes of belonging, community, friendship, acceptance, and feelings with a light-hearted and thoughtful touch."
* BookTrust Northern Ireland *"I love this story."
* The John Toal Show *"In a world full of prejudice, the message here is one of respect for all ways of life."
* The Echo *"The story deserves a place on every classroom bookshelf."
* Just Imagine *"This is a gorgeous book and hopefully not the last we hear of Oein and Olya."
* Read and Reviewed *"I definitely learned something from this book ... This story points out that though we are different we can still find common ground. I believe that to be true ... The illustrations were good as was the story."
* NetGalley Reviewer *"This is a beautifully illustrated telling of an Irish tale."
* ***** NetGalley Librarian Review *"Lovely illustrations support the text and tell the story of how large the world is."
* NetGalley Librarian Review *"Gorgeously illustrated."
* NetGalley Librarian Review *Praise for Oein DeBhairduin's Why the Moon Travels
"A beautiful book, immaculately written in clear but inventive language AND Why the Moon Travels, the title story, may be the most beautiful of all the tales, a metaphysical love story and tragedy that echoes everything from Lorca to Ladyhawke."
Praise for Oein DeBhairduin's Why the Moon Travels
"Life-affirming, luminous and lyrical, these vividly told stories of folklore, make the reader see nature — and the Travelling community in a new light."
* Irish Examiner *
Praise for Oein DeBhairduin's Why the Moon Travels
"DeBhairduin is a born storyteller. And here is a book that extends its hands generously across a boundary. A gift to the settled community, it belongs in every school and household."
* Children’s Book Ireland, Editors Choice *Praise for Oein DeBhairduin's Why the Moon Travels
"DeBhairduin writes with extraordinary lyricism and deep passion."
* Books Ireland Magazine *Oein is from Galway in the west of Ireland. He loves stories, new and old, long shared and freshly told. It brings joy to his heart to read and tell tales from and about his community, the Mincéirí. He works in the National Museum of Ireland where he collects the objects and their stories that connect our past to our present and hopeful futures. He was gifted this tale and he’s sharing it with you, in hopes that it travels well.
Olya is an artist-illustrator and visual storyteller. She holds an honours bachelor’s degree in animation and an honours master’s degree in children’s book illustration from Cambridge School of Art. Olya paints, illustrates books, and occasionally makes short animated films. One of her main sources of inspiration is the quiet mystery of the Irish countryside, especially along its western seaboard.
Where, as Olya believes, live many magical creatures like fairies and elves.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781915071071 |
| ISBN 10 | 1915071070 |
| Title | The Slug and the Snail |
| Author | Oein Debhairduin |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Little Island |
| Year published | 2023-07-06 |
| Number of pages | 32 |
| Prizes | Short-listed for An Post Irish Book Awards: Specsavers Children's Book of the Year (Junior)) 2023, Long-listed for 2024 Klaus Flugge Prize 2024, Nominated for Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration 2024 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |