This title is exactly the type of book I look for. It takes the old nursery rhyme and turns it on its ear. Gone are the traditional things that boys and girls are made of. In their place are newts, rain boots, pies, lemon dessert, and chicken butts. The children are energetic and silly. The grandfather is indulgent and allows the children to explore the things that best fit their personalities. I like that in the end, they haven't really settled on an answer. They're still free to embrace whatever their hearts desire.

This adorable title is not to be missed. The rhyme pattern will draw the target audience in and even if that weren't your thing, the pictures are phenomenal. I love the positive message about being who you are and embracing your individuality.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read this with my little one and she liked it even more than I expected her to and a lot more than I did. I will rate this based on her experience because I am undoubtedly not the target demographic.

There is a lot going on on the pages of this book but the pictures are definitely the highlight. The graphics are vivid, whimsical, sweet and fun. The text, on the other hand, is rhythmic and cute. It questions persistent gender specific labels and offers up some really unique alternatives. My daughter's favorite alternative was, "Maybe it was boys are made of balloons and mutts? And fresh chicken butts"...oh, how Littles love all talk of hineys.

Overall, I would reccomend this to those in the 2-5 year old range. The message is a good one. The graphics are silly and engaging and my daughter really enjoyed the package as a whole BUT I wish it had a stronger ending. The end just stops, no true feeling of things being wrapped up nicely...oh well, opportunity missed though I still I would reccomend this one. It's sweet and the message is worth sharing.

*** I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

SUGAR AND SNAILS What if girls aren’t made of sugar and spice? Or boys of frogs and puppy dog tails? This fun twist on the old adage is enlivened by Sonja Wimmer’s lively art, as silly alternatives are imagined by children visiting their grandpa.

Grateful to Annick Press Ltd. and NetGalley for the ARC; opinions are mine alone.

#SugarAndSnails #NetGalley

Sugar and Snails takes the familiar rhyme about what little boys and girls are made of and turns it on its head. The idea is charming, but somehow this does not translate to the page. While it’s important to allow children to discover and grow outside the boxes that society often places them in, this book is trying too hard and falls short of its mark. I also didn’t enjoy the use of the word “dangnamit” in a book dedicated to young children. Clearly, swearing shouldn’t be included in children’s books, so neither should this pretend swearing. Made up words intended to swear without swearing are a pet peeve of mine. Either come to terms with your desire to utter curse words or don’t do it at all! Thanks to NetGalley and Annick Press for providing this new children’s picture book in exchange for an honest review.

What are little boys and girls made of? This story Is a twist on the classic ryhme. It shows that not every boy is made of frogs and snails and not every girl is made of sugar and spice. I loved the illustrations! They were beautiful! It’s a great story of how everyone is different in their own way.

Cute story, I enjoyed that it wasn't the stereotypical traits for gender that I was expecting but fun and silly descriptions.

I'm totally on board with the concept for this book. I've never much liked that poem, not identifying with the idea of being sweetness and delicacy. In this age of varied gender expression, it's time for a new poem. There's not much of a story here but it would be a great starting point for a project with kids, having them do their own line.

I was excited to have received this book for review because the synopsis was adorable and I love the concept of twisting classics. I have even been on a retelling 'kick' in the MG and YA books I have been reading.

This book was whimsically illustrated as it re-told the rhyme about girls being made of sugar and spice and boys being made of snails and puppy dog tails. The illustrations show the new rhymes - all were hilarious and cute. I really liked this spin on the classic. It allowed for girls to be made of dirty things, and boys to like flowers and balloons. I think it was really well done. The ending kind of drops off and leaves the reader hanging but it might makes for an interesting question to talk about - What are you made of?

Love it! Such a nice twist on the old sugar and spice rhyme! I never thought those fit too well! Kids and adults alike will enjoy it and the illustrations are priceless! A very timely rhymed tale!

Fun rhyming text and whimsical, colourful, imaginative illustrations. It made me smile and I know exactly which children will be in their glee over the particular phrase “chicken butts” in there. This will be a fun one to read to young children, many of whom will no doubt request it over and over.

The original “What are little girls/boys made of?” nursery rhyme was in a beloved illustrated nursery rhymes gift book from my childhood. I still have that book. Sugar and Snails is a fun companion for it, with the added angle of challenging gender stereotypes without being too preachy. Well done, both writer and illustrator!

Thanks to the publisher Annick Press and NetGalley for the digital copy of Sugar and Snails that I read using Bluefire Reader.

#NetGalley #SugarandSnails

Love this! Sugar and Snails offers a fun, modern twist on a classic children's rhyme. The illustrations are really fun and whimsical and reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland with their juxtaposition of cute and gross, big and small, animal and human etc.

Sugar and Snails by Sarah Tsiang
Illustrations by: Sonja Wimmer
Publisher: Annick Press Ltd.
ISBN: 9781773210056
Publish Date: March 13, 2018

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Annick Press Ltd. for the ebook ARC of Sugar and Snails by Sarah Tsiang and illustrations by Sonja Wimmer in exchange for an honest review.

A twist to the classic rhyme. When the traditional rhyme just doesn’t seem to fit the boy and girl visiting their grandpa, he comes up with a list of unusual alternatives.

I give this book a rating of 5 stars. I read it to my youngest daughter who is 4 and we both really enjoyed the book. Was very cute and funny. I really like the illustrations, they were fun and colourful. It was worth the read and would definately buy this book for my household and as gifts.

#SugarAndSnails #NetGalley

My little girl has not grown up reading as many rhymes as I did for some weird reason – I wonder if I missed out on some of that with her, but whatever reason, I am making up for it and teaching her some of them now, and so glad I have modern versions to add on as well!Many of you might be familiar with this traditional rhyme:
What are little girls made of? Sugar and Spice and everything nice.
What are little boys made of? Frogs and snails and puppy dogs tails.I always wondered why this had to be so, even though I enjoyed reading this to my little brother! But this retelling of the rhyme is sure to be something boys and girls will love to read and see. Delightful silly whimsical illustrations accompany equally wonderful quirky rhymes in this modern take on the traditional. We loved that the descriptions for boys and girls in this version are not stereotypical at all. Girls made of crazy fast rides, and boys of cookies and spice are totally unexpected descriptions but that were loved by mommy and daughter alike at home as we read it. It is difficult to say what I loved more – the colorful art that pops out of every page or the words.
Rating: B+ - change to A
Reading Level: 4 – 7 years
Reread Level: 4.5/5
Disclaimer:Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for sending me a digital review copy of the books – Sugar and Snails and Harvey’s Hideout, . I was not compensated for my reviews. My thoughts were in no way influenced by the author or publicist. They are my personal opinions formed when I read these books.

Sweet and imaginative story to shake up gender assumptions. The illustrations are especially engaging.

I liked how this was a modern take on the traditional saying and it shows kids they can be whatever they want and don't have to fit in to these traditional roles that society has built. I particularly loved the last page and how they were undoing the stitching. Great message for kids!

I received an Arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book and can't wait to read it to my grandchildren. The message of course is that we do not have to follow the stereotype in the original rhyme about the cute, sweet little girl and the little boy who plays with dogs and loves snails, you can like and be whatever you want. The illustrations are wonderful. Depending on what rhyme gandpa is using i.e. girls can be made of snakeskins and pies and bright fireflies, the illustrations depicts that (a girl's head with fireflies in her hair, a snake body and a pie around her neck like a collar). They got quite silly and I can imagine the laughter when children see these pictures. Of course the message might get lost in the reading, but a discussion afterward about what they like will let them know that whatever it is, that is okay. A great book for family, school, classroom and public libraries. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

Sugar and Snails was a great story with a twist on the on old sayings "Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of" and "Snips and snails and puppy dog tails, that's what little boys are made of." The story follows a grandparent figure through trying to figure out "what" his grandchildren are and in the end, he realizes and tells them, they can be whoever and however they want! Lives are not dictated by old sayings. I love this book and can't wait to share it with my own children as well as my classroom.

This is one of those picture books with a message, but, to kids, it's just a book with great silly illustrations. I tend to cringe a bit about reading books with a message to children. My 7 year old daughter thought this was a lot of fun. She laughed out loud at over half of the illustrations. Her favorite was when the girl had a dinosaur tale.

The only part that bothered me was the girl proclaiming she doesn't wear dresses. I don't know why we have to keep picking on dresses. Dresses in a comfortable fabric afford the wearer better range of motion than denim. Let's put the blame squarely where it belongs; the shoes that go with dresses. But, that's one small point in an otherwise cute book.

This book is ideal for anyone who has ever recoiled at the "sugar and spice and everything nice" saying. I remember hearing that as a kid and immediately thinking that it didn't fit me at all. I was definitely more frog, snail and puppy dog tail myself. Additionally, the book manages to fit in the phrase 'fresh chicken butts'.. That is all.. lol

Perfect. Absolutely Perfect. Perfect story, perfect illustrations. So many have heard the saying “ What are little boys made of? Frogs, Snails, and puppy dog tails.” And girls are made of “sugar and spice and everything nice.” This story turns that saying on its head. Because some girls are made of dinosaur tales, and some boys of bumblebee wings. My favorite one is “balloons, mutts, and chicken butts”. A wonderful look at what makes a child.