Doris Lecher - A New House for Charlie

For my parents English translation 2014 by Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. Originally published as Ein neues Haus fr Charli e and published by arrangement with Beltz & Gelberg. 2012 Beltz & Gelberg in der Verlagsgruppe Beltz Weinheim Basel Erstmals erschienen 1999 im Bajazzo Verlag All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018. Sky Pony Press books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes.

Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Sky Pony Press, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or . Sky Pony is a registered trademark of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Visit our website at www.skyponypress.com. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Manufactured in China, January 2014 This product conforms to CPSIA 2008 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file. ISBN: 978-1-62873-814-8
eISBN: 978-1-62873-958-9

Like all little snails, Charlie and his friends love snail racing.

Today, Charlie is wearing the number two for the race. Charlie is ahead an entire tentacle length when... ... crack ! Disaster strikes. What rotten luck! Without a house, what will happen to you in the winter? say Charlies friends. Go see Mrs.

Hedgehog! She always knows what to do! Mrs. Hedgehog says, You need to knitknit for the winter! She gives Charlie scraps of wool and two of her spines as knitting needles. And so Charlie knitstwo knits, two purlsa snuggly warm house. But, unfortunately, it isnt waterproof. And wet wool is too damp, even for a snail. Keep your tentacles raised high and do not despair! say the ants from the neighboring garden.

Well help you! The hardworking ants build Charlie the strongest and most waterproof snail house there ever was. To thank them, Charlie gives them an apple slice. He is ready to leave, as everyone is quite happy... ... but the new house is so heavy that Charlie can hardly move an inch. Ill starve if I cant move , thinks Charlie.

So he leaves his house to a freezing beetle family. Just then, an excited dragonfly flies by and says, I found you a house! Charlie likes this house at first sight. But snails simply cant crawl over dry sand. Come with me! the rat comforts. Ill bring you to the nicest place on earth. the other too sticky... One has sharp edges... and the next is already occupied.
Suddenly a wonderful scent fills Charlies nose. My dream house! cheers Charlie. My dream house! cheers Charlie.

But its unfortunate that the new house tastes so good. Every day the house gets a little bit smaller. And after a week it disappears completely. Now Charlie finds shelter in the wood pile, but as a snail, he prefers having his own home. Feeling sad, he creeps back into his garden. ... the most beautiful snail houseexactly in his size. the most beautiful snail houseexactly in his size.

Where did it come from?
Charlie inspects it and is startled. He recognizes that shoe! Dont be scared! says Matthew, the shoes owner. I painted this colorful snail house just for you. Matthew noticed that he had stepped on the snails house, and he felt really bad. So he searched his treasure box for the biggest snail house, decorated it, and put it in the garden. But when Charlies friends want to snail race with him, he hides in his new house.