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TURTLE WALK

Page history last edited by RichiesPicks 2 years, 9 months ago

28 June 2021 TURTLE WALK by Matt Phelan, HarperCollins/Greenwillow, October 2020, 32p., ISBN: 978-0-06-293413-0

 

“A loggerhead sea turtle tracked by satellite ended up in the Northern African country of Tunisia following a nearly-300 day journey across the Mediterranean starting in Turkey, over 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) away, Turkish scientists found.”

-- Hurriyet Daily News (6/13/21)

 

“Your friend is heavy

But he was ready

And never stopped for a while

While you were sleeping

He kept on keeping 

The final line in his mind”

-- John Lodge, “The Tortoise and the Hare” (1970)

 

TURTLE WALK features a family foursome of turtles who keep that final line in their minds. 

 

“Turtle walk. Nice and slow.

Here we go.

Are we there yet?

No.”

 

This simple rhyme repeats as endearing watercolor and pencil illustrations depict the turtles steadily lumbering through the seasons: Spring flowers and showers, robins and bunnies. Sunflowers, praying mantises, kids swinging and blowing bubbles. Lightning bugs. Trees changing colors, apple picking, squirrels gathering acorns, and jack-o-lanterns. 

 

Finally, the turtles come face-to-face with the snow.

 

This time, the question, “Are we there yet?” is met with a resounding “YES,” as the turtles momentarily survey the glittering landscape before tucking in their legs and employing their shells as toboggans. The stoicism of the journey is replaced by wide eyes and grins as they jet down the slopes.

 

Cowabunga! (As a previous generation of turtle aficionados would exclaim.)

 

The journey concludes as the quartet locate a cave in which to curl up for a nice, long rest.

 

The threes- and fours- will get a kick out of the story, and will subsequently pore over the details of the seasonal illustrations when provided a post-storytime opportunity, 

 

Richie Partington, MLIS

Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com

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richiepartington@gmail.com  

 

 

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