It takes a lot for a book to make me laugh out loud. A LOT. And when I find one that does, I want to read it over and over and over again. This is how I feel about the hilarious Snail and Worm: Three Stories About Two Friends and the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor winning Snail and Worm Again by Tina Kugler, a duo of picture books fabulous for emerging readers that we just can’t get enough of in our house right now.In Snail and Worm, and the follow up Snail and Worm Again, the titular characters are best friends— best friends who engage in some rather silly antics. From playing tag with rocks and sticks to climbing up flowers to looking for lost pets, both kids and adults will giggle all the way through these engaging and oh-so-humorous books.I swear, I love love love when illustrations elevate story to a whole new level. And that’s exactly what happens in the Snail and Worm books. Though some of the humor may have to be explained to really young children, kids will no doubt erupt in giggles when they realize how ironic or just plain goofy the images are when read in combination with the text. Be forewarned that the illustrations, due to their sophisticated humor, won't really help kids decode the text. Nonetheless, the chapters are short, only about 40 or 50 words each, and the dialogue is simple, making these stories perfect for emerging readers and those who want to take their first stab at “chapter” books. And laughs, I promise, are in store. Not just for your kids, but for you too. Fun, clever, and an absolute must for anyone wanting engaging books for beginning readers.