Henry the Snail

Born in 1983, Katarina Macurova is an award-winning artist whose innovative work spans from graphics and illustration to 3D graphics. She studied at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Slovakia, and has won several prestigious awards, including the Communication Arts Award of Excellence in the USA. Hailing from Bratislava, Slovakia, she continues to push the boundaries of her artistry.

Featured in the CBC Fall 2024 Showcase: Small Moments of Gratitude.Selected for CBC's Summer Showcase 2024: Imagination CelebrationSelected for 2024 CBC Children's Favorites Gr K-2Selected for The Children’s Book Council’s June 2023 “Hot Off The Press” Reading List"Henry wants to climb the plants and flowers in the garden with all the other snails, but Henry is different in one important way: he has no slime. Determined to find his own way to climb, Henry begins training; he drags pebbles, lifts peas, and balances peach pits until he is strong enough. Facing down the tallest flower in the garden, however, Henry learns that sometimes the strongest thing to do is ask for help." —Foreword"This is a sweet tale of perseverance and of not letting a disability define oneself. The hand-lettered text is easy to read, and the artwork is gorgeous – the garden greenery and bugs are beautifully rendered in a realistic style, while still imbuing the insects with personality." —Youth Services Book Review"At the heart of the story is the message about overcoming adversity and the importance of community. I liked the illustrations as well as the message. Henry climbing with his eye stalks was cute and furthered my engagement with the story. Overall, this was a great book to use when teaching themes about disabilities, perseverance, and community." —Connie Reid, YA Books Central"Henry the Snail helps kids learn social-emotional skills. The story is about handicaps, coping with them, yearning, empowerment, and solidarity. I highly recommend this book." —Storywraps"This snail's-eye view of the world and his place in it offers important lessons on willpower, overcoming adversity, and accepting differences that will serve as fine food for thought and discussion between adults and kids. The inviting story is highly recommended for libraries looking for lessons in positive thinking and diverse approaches to life." —Donovan's Literary Services"What a cute book! Little Henry is so adorable. I love his can-do spirit and his tenacity! What a great message for little readers who might feel inadequate or weak. A positive attitude can work wonders in any situation! I love the pretty illustrations! Every page is full of lovely flowers and greenery, and the designs for the little snails and slugs are so cute!" —Luminous Libro Blog"This is a sweet tale of perseverance and of not letting a disability define oneself. The hand-lettered text is easy to read, and the artwork is gorgeous - the garden greenery and bugs are beautifully rendered in a realistic style, while still imbuing the insects with personality." —Stephanie Tournas, Robbins Library"This book will help young children know the power of not giving up and helping one another. The illustrations are beautiful showcasing many different plants found in a backyard garden." —Sreymom Serey, Puget Sound Council for Reviewing Children's and Young Adult Literature