Shape shifting snails, a dastardly plot and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in this HILARIOUS book. The plot absolutely rockets along with a cast of archly drawn characters and a pair of heroes who will change the way you see the snails in your garden.

GASP as Fergus and Shelby shape-shift into crisp packets and custard.
BOO at the dastardly villainous slugs and their inspired evil plot.
CHEER as our heroes race...sort of....to save the day,

And then go feed your local snails some lettuce. They deserve it.

Loved the cover of this so I just had to ask for it, it’s feeling good reading books for younger readers again, quite refreshing.

Fergus and Shelby are a couple of snails who’ve found the good life in the garden they live in as they get treated to lots of different salads and are allowed to eat what they want, including fresh crunchy cucumber!

But there is something afoot in the world of gastropods…

Slug-life is on the rise and the benefits of slugs are being promoted everywhere and Fergus wants to find out why, and they find out more than they were bargaining for.

and oh yes, they both can transform after a puddle they were drinking at got hit by lightning…

Fun little adventure with some great illustrations from Brenda Figueroa supporting the fast-paced story telling.

I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a delightfully funny story for the younger reader. Such an original concept, with the two hero snail gaining the ability to transform into both living creatures and vegetables at will. Add in a plot by slugs to take over the world and mayhem is bound to ensue. I loved this and it would be great to see some further adventures?

This book starts with Fergus the snail trying his best to save his snail-kind, and to do so he's talking to an empty crisp packet. This – obviously – is actually his best friend Shelby, who has discovered they both have the power of mega-morphing, and can zap their forms into anything they can think of. Of course. It's what snails can do when their puddle has been hit by lightning. Anyway, Fergus decides the only thing to do is invade 10 Downing Street, talk to the powerful, organised and efficient (oh bless the sarcasm) Prime Minister, and get their kind saved. Saved? Yes, because every human is completely and utterly biased against snails and pro slugs, and the garden they live in has three days before it stops becoming their only haven in a world of slug spas, slug silent discos and so much else.

There is very much a wrong way to do bonkers – throwing everything onto the page, and not caring whether it sticks or not. This definitely is the right way to do bonkers, and with characters turning into a gloop of custard, and a rather unique seaside postcard, this is definitely bonkers. There's little better description – and yet this all follows logic, while keeping a thoroughly dramatic narrative alive. I don't know how much the Prime Minister and constant talk of lettuces was inspired by certain British tabloids, but either way this is joyous stuff – the kind of story you'd never in your wildest dreams expect to find when waking up, but one that would send you to sleep at the end of the day with a firm smile on your face.

It clearly isn't finished – the Prime Minister clearly not ever powerful, organised or efficient enough to turn everyone so against snails and so in favour of their cousins – but this is one example of a book where the sequel can't come quick enough. It's close enough to five stars to deserve nothing else.

I mean, this had my attention by the title alone. And the cover - that is really striking, and will definitely grab any child's attention.

This book is proof as to why I like reading kids books even though I'm in my 30s. As much as I might enjoy them, sometimes I don't want a thriller or a murder or relationship drama, sometimes I just want world-saving snails. And I had just finished a really emotional book beforehand, and thought this would be a real uplifter.

The formatting wasn't perfect on my e-arc but I did see some illustrations which were lovely. I'm a big fan of illustrations in books and these really helped the story come to life.

I would have liked a little bit more background at the beginning, because it does go straight into them being able to shape-shift; it would have been nice to see what had happened for greater context, but I doubt younger readers will be fussy about that.

It's a very quick book to read. I read it in an hour or so, but even younger readers I think will get sucked in and speed through it. I've got children in my family aged 5-13 and I could definitely see the younger ones enjoying this. It's odd and silly and quirky and fun.

I think there's definitely scope for a sequel, perhaps even a crime-fighting snail series?