The End of the Beginning

Its my birthday today, so the review is going to be about one of my favorite books. It will also be a little shorter than normal, no rest for the weary, but I hope you will not begrudge me a little break.

The End of the Beginning, by Avi, is a book about a snail and an ant who go off in search on adventures. As they travel the length of a branch, they meet all sorts of colorful animals. They come help a caterpillar, teach a song to a cricket, and discover a dragon in disguise. Along the way they also learn the importance of friendship.

This is one of my favorite books just because of the witty way in which it is told. It is not a hard book to read by any means, but it contains a kind of logic that makes you really think. The way that the ant and the snail see the world is very different from the way that you or I would see it, and this makes for some very interesting dialogs that really make you question the way the world really is. In the end, the book teaches you how to make even the most ordinary of days into adventures, a technique that can turn a dreary day into one of excitement and wonder. The simple way in which the ant and the snail conquer the challenges that are set before them, and the way that they think their way through with a logic that is funny but also carries wisdom will appeal to children of all ages and most adults as well. If you think that you need a break from the monotony or fast pace of daily life, The End of the Beginning offers a great way to escape from the rigors of your life. It will draw you in and leave you with a sense of wonder of your life that will transform even the simplest of tasks into pleasurable experiences.