It’s taken 11 years for the little snail’s triumphant story to come to life. Now his improbable journey to meet the king is ready for Catholic families to enjoy.
The idea for the parable lingered in Fr. Peregrine Fletcher’s imagination ever since he was a novice discerning his vocation.
Today, artist and author Fr. Fletcher, O.Praem, is Master of Novices at St. Michael’s Abbey in Silverado Canyon.
And his illustrated story, “The Snail and the King,” will officially be released on March 19. Readers can find it by navigating to joannespress.com, Amazon.com, or visiting local Catholic bookstores, including the Christ Cathedral Store.
“It’s a parable that I pray will help readers of all ages reflect on God’s ever-present love for us in all the trials we face on our way to heaven,” Fr. Fletcher explained. “The snail is invited to God’s kingdom and, against all odds, makes it to the king.”
“THE SNAIL AND THE KING” IS THE STORY OF A LITTLE SNAIL WHO IS CALLED, WITH ALL GOD’S
CREATURES, TO MEET THE KING.
The book, written in verse, is the story of a little snail who is called, with all God’s creatures, to meet the king. Other, larger and more powerful animals deride the snail’s abilities. Still, with the help of a dove, he can withstand desert heat and cross mighty rivers on his ultimately victorious trek, where the king’s son welcomes him.
THE MAIN MESSAGE OF “THE SNAIL AND THE KING” IS TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD ON ONE’S
FAITH JOURNEY.
The main message of “The Snail and the King” is to keep moving forward on one’s faith journey, according to Fr. Fletcher.
“No matter what trials and temptations come along,” he added, “we must keep persevering and trusting that our God, who’s invited us to heaven, has also given us the means to get there.”
He notes that the story is important for readers today because life is hard, and we are often tempted to give up.
“God doesn’t say that life is trial-free or as easy as possible, but no matter how difficult life is, He is always there to help us.
“He wants to remind both adults and children to remember that we are called to live forever,” continued Fr. Fletcher, “to be happy forever in a place that’s everlastingly good.”
While the book’s main audience is children, its message is important for readers of all ages.
“Life is hard, and oftentimes we encounter obstacles, trials, difficulties and temptations,” he explained. “It can be tempting to stop and give up. As adults, we must remind ourselves that God is good, leading us along the way.”
Fr. Fletcher entered the Norbertine Order in 2013, professed his solemn vows in 2019 and was ordained to the priesthood the following year. As Novice Master, he is responsible for forming the many young men who come to St. Michael’s Abbey each year to pursue their religious vocations.
For “The Snail and the King,” Fr. Fletcher drew inspiration from his observations of Christian art and from one of his favorite artists, Eyvind Earle. Earle was an American artist noted for his contribution to the background illustration and styling of Disney’s animated films in the 1950s.
“He’s one of my favorite artists/illustrators whose work I admire and have emulated over the years,” said Fr. Fletcher.
The book’s illustrations are in gouache paint, which he calls an amazing and versatile medium he’s come to enjoy. Gouache is a water-medium paint consisting of natural pigment, water, a binding agent and sometimes additional inert material. It’s designed to be opaque and has a long history, having been used for at least 12 centuries. Today, it’s used most consistently by commercial artists for posters, illustrations, comics and other design work.
Currently, Fr. Fletcher is working on a book about St. Michael the Archangel, to be published in fall 2025 by TAN Books. He also hopes to find time to tell other stories through art.
“I’d like to get back to making icons in tempera,” he said. “It’s a joy to work on books, but I also love the idea of refining my skills, especially with the gold gilding of the icons. It’s a very complex process, but I love seeing the gold – so I want to keep moving down the road, fine-tuning my skills.”
His previous work, “My Name is Philomena: A Saint’s Story,” also an illustrated picture book, is available from TAN Books; it was published in August 2023. The website Blessed Catholic Mom reviewed the book, saying, “Fr. Fletcher’s wonderful book shows the great love and devotion St. Philomena had for Christ Jesus.”
FR. FLETCHER’S UPCOMING BOOK SIGNING EVENTS FOR “THE SNAIL AND THE KING” INCLUDE:
■ Saturday, March 16 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at JMJ Catholic Store (310 E Orangethorpe Ave. Suite A, Placentia)
■ Saturday, April 13 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Catholic Books & Gifts (1131 W Lincoln Ave, #120, Anaheim)