Avi 
End of the Beginning 
Being the Adventures of a Small Snail (and an Even Smaller Ant)

Small steps lead to big adventures for a pair of unlikely friends in this “charming modern fable” by the Newbery Medal-winning author of Crispin (Booklist).   Avon the snail has never had an adventure. And adventure, he has heard, is the key to a happy life. So he sets out on an exciting journey with his new pal, Edward, a thoughtful but misinformed ant. Together they meet all manner of wise, weird, and intriguing creatures—including a dragon!—and discover that even tiny adventures can broaden your view of the world.     “This finely-spun fantasy…features ingenious wordplay and heartfelt proof of friendship’s rewards.”—Parenting magazine