Sylvia Finds a Way

by Stephanie Shaw, Fiona Lee (Illustrator)

Overview

The story of how one small creature can have a powerful effect for her and her friends using the power of restraint, kindness, and respect.

2023 Nominee, Patricia Gallagher Children’s Choice Award

"Could there be a more Oregon picture book than one starring a slug who does yoga? Oregon author Stephanie Shaw's quirky protagonist stars in a story in which her sly sweetness carries the day when her animal friends' speed, strength and size all fail against a protective gardener. Mixed-media illustrations by Fiona Lee enhance Sylvia's elegant solution."
—The Oregonian

"Shaw's evocative descriptions of the flora and fauna will engage young readers and the author's note gives factual information about slugs and their value to the garden's ecosystem. Lee's mixed-media illustrations have a sophisticated palette with an aesthetic that grown-up fans of Anna Rifle Bond will appreciate. The balance between boisterous action and meditative zen makes this title a standout among yoga picture books. A fun, frolicking tale, and welcome addition to picture book collections, that sneaks in an etiquette lesson without feeling overly didactic."
—School Library Journal

"Confident in her own brand of quiet strength, Sylvia's way teaches kids that there are different kinds of strength. And that often, the best way to solve a problem is not with physical strength, but with patience and words. Stephanie Shaw and Fiona Lee's depiction of this unlikely hero is sure to find fans among yoga and garden enthusiasts. Lee's expressive art is a perfect complement to Shaw's simple and satisfying story. The earthy color palette allows Sylvia's 'slime' trail of silvery, shiny gloss to take center stage, keeping even the youngest readers entranced. Throw in some fun yoga poses, and this book makes a delightful, interactive read-aloud."
—Good Reads with Ronna

"This cute story is brought to life by adorable pictures (the people and animals are very expressive) and even the shiny slime trail Sylvia leaves behind."
—Youth Services Review

Sylvia is as small as your pinky finger and as slow as a. . . slug! She can't run or jump or fly like her animal friends. They hatch a plot to sneak into the bountiful garden.

But Sylvia has her own way of doing things—one that will make all the difference.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781513289502
Publisher:	West Margin Press
Publication date:	11/16/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	31 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Stephanie Shaw is an award-winning children's book author, educator, and former schoolteacher and principal. With over 30 years of experience in the public school system, she is passionate about children's education and literacy—and about incredible animals like slugs! Stephanie currently lives in Oregon. Visit her at StephanieShawAuthor.com.
Fiona Lee was originally trained as a science illustrator but has since found a new passion in children’s illustration. Her art is inspired by color, kids, and animals, and she enjoys capturing the details and textures of life’s small moments. Fiona lives in Vermont in a tiny house in the middle of a big hayfield. Visit her at FionaLeeStudios.com.

Reading Group Guide

Sylvia pressed her tummy into the cool, morning mud. She stretched her body from one end to the other. Lifting her face to the rising sun, she breathed deeply. “I am a cobra,” said Sylvia.

But Sylvia was not a cobra. Sylvia was a slug. A slug the size of your finger.

Sylvia’s friends galloped, hip-hopped, and flapped in circles. But that was not Sylvia’s way.

Sylvia practiced yoga. She bowed like a dog. She arched like a cat. She stretched like a camel. She quietly hummed to herself as she drank in the promise of a new day.

As her tiny tentacles stretched skyward, she smelled something wonderful. “What a beautiful garden!” whispered Sylvia. There was row after row of dew-soaked leaves, tender sprouts, and brilliant blossoms.

“It’s a dine-and-dash buffet!” said Deer. “And I know just the way to get in. BOUND, LEAP, and MUNCH!” Deer jumped into the vegetable beds. She ripped and tore at cabbage, peapods, and sweet potato plants. A gardener arrived, shaking her broom. “Get out, thief!” she yelled. Deer bounced away.

The next day a higher fence surrounded the garden. “No worries,” said Rabbit. “I know just the way to partake in that pretty patch. DART, WIGGLE, and CRUNCH!” Rabbit squeezed under the fence. He pulled up baby carrots and noshed on young spinach. Again, the gardener appeared. “Stop, you vandal!” she yelled. Rabbit narrowly escaped.

The next day wire was tacked onto the bottom of the fence. “I know a way to get into the garden,” said Crow. “FLY, SWOOP, and PECK!” Crow dipped down and plucked at the tender new ears of corn. Again, the gardener came running. “Off with you, bandit!” she yelled. Crow took flight with nothing to show for his aerial antics.

The next day another gardener with outstretched arms stood guard in the garden. “I guess we won’t be having any more peas,” grumbled Deer. “Or carrots,” sniffed Rabbit. “Or corn,” cried Crow. Sylvia sat quietly and breathed deeply and thought carefully. After several minutes she said, “I have an idea.”

Her friends watched as Sylvia moved slowly toward the garden. “Don’t go in!” they shouted. “You can’t leap!” “You can’t dart! “ “You can’t fly away!” “I know,” said Sylvia. “But I have my own way. And I’m going to try.” Sylvia stretched. She scrunched. She stretched again, until… …she made it under the fence.

It was nighttime when she finally reached a smooth patch of dirt beside the lettuce. By the light of a creamy moon, Sylvia closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Softly, she blew the breath out. She formed her best locust yoga position. Then she turned in careful loops and swirls, mindful of the beautiful bounty all around her.

When she was finished, Sylvia left the garden without eating a thing. It took her until morning to get back to her friends. “You didn’t bring us anything to eat!” they complained. “Your way isn’t any better than ours.” “We’ll see,” said Sylvia.

The next morning the gardener studied the ground beside the lettuce beds. “Well, look at that,” she said. [Art Note: Sylvia has written the word PLEASE? In beautiful silvery calligraphy]

The gardener gathered some baby carrots, a handful of peas, and a few ears of new corn. She tossed them out of the garden where the animals were sure to find them. Then she snipped a few leaves from the newly planted lettuce and laid them in the shade of a large stone. Once the gardener was gone, the friends settled in for a delicious feast. “Sylvia,” they agreed, “you really do have a way…

…with words!” [Art Note: A new message from Sylvia in the garden reading ‘Thank You!’]

Interviews

I have a wonderful friend who kept encouraging me to do yoga. Yoga does not appeal to me and I felt badly about not wanting to do yoga, but worse, I felt badly about myself. Mentally I would be thinking, “I’m just a slug.” That got me thinking about slugs in a whole different way —not destructive, but quiet and maybe quite lovely. Sylvia (like me) is not athletic like her friends, but she has her own way. And, it works for her. I’m pretty sure there are other ‘slugs’ out there! In the book, Sylvia (a tiny, yoga-practicing, calligrapher slug) uses a peaceful way to demonstrate that through civility, not fighting, problems can be solved.

Editorial Reviews

Let's Talk Picture Books Crush of the Week!

"A fine story evolves that celebrates slower, more mindful paths in life by making more constructive choices. A surprise conclusion to the story gives young picture book readers a lovely experience, enhanced by Fiona Lee's evocative drawings."
—Midwest Book Review, Children's Bookwatch

"A fine story evolves that celebrates slower, more mindful paths in life by making more constructive choices. A surprise conclusion to the story gives young picture book readers a lovely experience, enhanced by Fiona Lee's evocative drawings."
—Donovan's Literary Services

"A slug saves the day for some hungry friends. . . Yoga fans may get a kick out of a slug mastering a locust pose."
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

09/03/2021

PreS-Gr 2—Often the garden's smallest occupants are those that have the largest impact. Sylvia, the finger-sized slug, is a mindful mollusk that has a deep appreciation for the lush and bountiful garden in which she dwells. Its sights, sounds, and smells delight her senses and she finds it the perfect backdrop for her yoga practice. She stretches like a cobra, bows like a dog, and arches like a cat, all while her more exuberant garden companions make attempts at seizing the garden's tasty treats. The furred and feathered garden interlopers—deer, rabbit, and crow—quickly attract the attention of the gardener with their brash movements. Their hopes of getting the delicious corn, peas, and carrots are dashed when a scarecrow appears in the garden. Luckily, Sylvia has a plan. With a bit of grit and a lot of grace, Sylvia uses her greatest assets—kindness, flexibility, and slime—to ask the gardener to share her harvest. Shaw's evocative descriptions of the flora and fauna will engage young readers and the author's note gives factual information about slugs and their value to the garden's ecosystem. Lee's mixed-media illustrations have a sophisticated palette with an aesthetic that grown-up fans of Anna Rifle Bond will appreciate. The balance between boisterous action and meditative zen makes this title a standout among yoga picture books. VERDICT A fun, frolicking tale, and welcome addition to picture book collections, that sneaks in an etiquette lesson without feeling overly didactic.—Sarah Simpson, Westerville P.L., OH

School Library Journal

2021-08-04
A slug saves the day for some hungry friends.

Sylvia, a small slug who likes to practice yoga and consider “the promise of a new day,” eyes the lush flower and vegetable garden that a bespectacled, olive-skinned, dark-haired child and adult tend. When Sylvia’s friends—Deer, Rabbit, and Crow—invade the garden and try to steal some of its bounty, the humans shoo them away and install a scarecrow and a sign: “KEEP OUT!” Sylvia determines to help her friends gain access. Despite her friends’ skepticism (she can’t leap, dart, or fly, after all), Sylvia slips under the garden fence and, using her best yoga moves, writes a cursive “PLEASE” in the dirt, which inspires in the humans an act of beneficence: They place carrots, peas, and corn outside the garden fence for the creatures to eat (along with a new sign that reads, “Welcome Everyone”). Illustrations depict Sylvia as spotted with two large cartoon eyes atop her antennae. Following the story is an author’s note that includes facts about slugs. But any child wanting to learn more about slugs would do well to find an informational book instead of one that anthropomorphizes them—and that imparts such an earnest and somewhat overbearing message (one that altogether skirts the food chain) about kindness. Yoga fans may get a kick out of a slug mastering a locust pose, but otherwise the story lacks luster.

A treacly take on the forbidden-garden narrative. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews