Illustrated by Fiona Lee
Published by West Margin Press, 2021
Mom's Review
Sylvia Finds a Way is a sweet story about the animals and gardeners coming to an understanding through a slug's courtesy.
When a deer, rabbit, and bird each try to feast in a small garden, only to be chased off, slug Sylvia offers her animal friends an alternate approach. Readers see how Sylvia's slime is crucial in solving the animals' problems in the story and then readers learn about slugs in the back matter. Careful observers will notice a child in the story who, although in a non-speaking role, demonstrates interest in and compassion for the animals, even when the mother is chasing the intruders from the garden. I expect the young audience will easily identify with the child and contemplate our relationship with the natural world we live in.
While there is some anthropomorphism, from which I usually shy away, I find it effectively demonstrates how creatures we perceive as "pests" may themselves perceive our gardens. I also find Sylvia to be a sympathetic, likeable character; she simultaneously encourages us to look at slugs in a new light and brings ostensible enemies together through open-mindedness within the story.
What on the surface looks like a tale about animals and a gardener has deeper levels if one decides to look. Sylvia will glide onto your shelf (or library bag) and into your heart.
Since reading Sylvia, I've been
paying the slugs in the garden
more attention.
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