Product Description Avon the snail and Edward the ant are back for another funny--and philosophical--adventure. This time, Avon has decided he wants to be a writer, only to discover that writing is way more difficult than he ever imagined. He finally gets the word Something written down, but there's a problem: What to write next? Luckily, his friend Edward is there to advise.          Brimming with wit, wisdom, and humor, this warm and winning tale of two friends on a quest will be enjoyed by readers (and writers) of all ages.  From Booklist First introduced in the 2004 book The End of the Beginning: Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant), Avon the Snail and Edward the Ant return, this time on a quest to write writing. Avon has decided to become an author, and Edward, with more ideas than practical ways to contribute, is determined to assist. The plot is minimal, and exists only as a field on which Avi engages in every manner of wordplay, crafting an early chapter book that sits squarely between Peggy Parish’s Amelia Bedelia stories and Abbot and Costello’s “Who’s on First?†routine. The small trim size, large typeface, and Tusa’s sweet pencil sketches suggest an audience even younger than the target readership, though some of them won’t catch all the puns. But it’s easy to imagine the right child sitting at the dinner table or in the back seat of the car, or traipsing through the grocery store, exhausting the patience of assembled, captive family with a word-for-word account of Avon and Edward’s hilarious exploits. Grades 1-3. --Thom Barthelmess About the Author AVI has written many acclaimed novels for middle grade and teen readers, including his Newbery Medal-winning Crispin: The Cross of Lead and his two Newbery Honor books, Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel and The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. He lives in Denver, Colorado. TRICIA TUSA has illustrated more than fifty books for children, including her own Camilla's New Hairdo, Mrs. Spitzer's Garden by Edith Pattou, and The Magic Hat by Mem Fox. She lives in Galisteo, New Mexico. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. ChapterOne  In Which Avon Feels Low    it was a dull, rainy morning, utterly gloomy.            Inside his house, Avon, a rather small snail, was staring at a blank piece of paper that stood before him. Across the room, his friend Edward the ant was lying on his back, staring up at the ceiling, which was just as blank.            Avon sighed. “The truth is, Edward,†he said, “I’ve read a lot of adventures. And I’ve been on my own adventures. But I’m making no progress writing about my adventures.†           “I’m so sorry to hear that,†said Edward. “Do you know anything about why?†           “I’m pretty sure it’s at the end of the alphabet,†said Avon, “next to Z.†           “I mean,†said Edward, “that when writing goes poorly, it sometimes has to do with how you are feeling. Can you tell me how you feel?†           “Well, my spirits are . . . down.†           “Avon, must I remind you? We live in a tree. You’re actually up.†           “Then how can I be so low?†           “Avon,†said Edward, “would-be writers often think attitude is most important. More often than not, it’s altitude.†           “I’ve never looked at things that way,†said Avon.            “Then it’s time for you to look another way,†suggested Edward. “After all, if you’re looking down, it’s only logical to assume you’re up. But if you’re looking up, you must be down. Still, I must advise you, some think it’s best to be neither high nor low, but in the middle.†           “I don’t think,†said Avon, “I’ve ever heard anyone say, ‘I’m feeling middle.’†           “Perhaps you need to get a grip on yourself,†said Edward.            “Edward!†cried Avon. “How can I get a grip when I have no hands?†           “My apologies,†said Edward in haste. “I some-times forget that