The Book of Turtles

by Sy Montgomery, Matt Patterson (Illustrator)

Overview

**A SIBERT HONOR BOOK! **

** A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR ** A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE OF THE YEAR **

From National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestseller Sy Montgomery comes an ode to one of the most diverse, fascinating, and beloved species on the planet: turtles. With dazzling illustrations and emotionally engaging, fact-filled text, this picture book will speak to the wisdom these long-lived animals can lend.

Everyone loves turtles. And no wonder: long-lived, unhurried, and ancient, these shelled reptiles are fascinating.

Turtles are also endlessly surprising. There are turtles with soft shells, turtles with googly eyes, turtles with necks longer than their bodies, and turtles whose shells glow in the dark!

And each turtle, of each of the more than 300 kinds, is an individual. You’ll meet some of them here: Lonesome George, the last of his kind on Earth. And Myrtle, the 90-year-old green sea turtle who has more than 7,000 followers on Facebook.        

What questions might you ask a turtle? You’ll find many of the answers in this gorgeous compendium—and perhaps be inspired to help at a time when these reptiles, who evolved at the same time as the dinosaurs, face the deadliest dangers of their more than 380-million-year history.

Read more books by Sy Montgomery:

• Becoming a Good Creature
• The Magnificent Migration
• Condor Comeback
• The Hyena Scientist
• The Octopus Scientists
• The Great White Shark Scientist

 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780358458074
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/02/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	40,774
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

In addition to researching films, articles, and thirty-six books, National Book Award finalist Sy Montgomery has been honored with a Sibert Medal, two Science Book and Film Prizes from the National Association for the Advancement of Science, three honorary degrees, and many other awards. She lives in Hancock, New Hampshire, with her husband, Howard Mansfield, and their border collie, Thurber.

Hometown:

Hancock, New Hampshire

Date of Birth:

February 7, 1958

Place of Birth:

Frankfurt, Germany

Education:

Syracuse University: B.A., Newhouse School of Public Communications, 1979; B.A., College of Arts and Sciences, 1979

Editorial Reviews

★ 06/19/2023

Montgomery and Patterson astonish with this fact-driven turtle tribute. An intriguing opening remark—“The shell invented the turtle”—leads into discussion of the creatures’ most defining feature: “The shell permits a slow pace—no need to hurry when you’re safe.” Conversational text further invites appreciation for the reptiles’ longevity (the Aldabra giant tortoise can live up to 250 years), talents (some can learn mazes), and communication abilities (leatherback babies call to each other from inside their eggs), while emphasizing individuality (“Turtles, like people, have thoughts and feelings”) and highlighting select “celebrity turtles.” Realistic, almost photographic, acrylic paintings capture diverse turtle species, inspired by “turtles the artist has personally known.” Every page is an authoritative delight in this conservation-minded ode poised to turn anyone into a turtle lover. Resources, glossary, and bibliography conclude. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Book of Turtles: ★ "Smartly pairing two experts in wildlife portrayal, this one is not to be missed. Splendid." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for The Book of Turtles: ★ "Montgomery and Patterson astonish with this fact-driven turtle tribute. Realistic, almost photographic, acrylic paintings capture diverse turtle species. Every page is an authoritative delight in this conservation-minded ode poised to turn anyone into a turtle lover." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for The Book of Turtles: ★"A stunning book that will delight readers of any age, filled with interesting facts about the turtles’ life cycles, their eating habits, and even a few myths." — School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for The Book of Turtles: ★ "Acclaimed science writer Montgomery introduces turtles to young readers. [A] pattern, consisting of short, informative paragraphs written in Montgomery’s easy journalistic style and accompanied by a detailed acrylic-paint illustration complementing the text, continues throughout. Fascinating." — Horn Book (starred review)

Praise for The Book of Turtles: ★ "In this inviting book, Montgomery introduces turtles with facts, observations, and an irrepressible admiration for the critters as well as a knack for seeing things from their perspective. A beautiful, informative introduction to turtles." — Booklist (starred review)

Praise for Becoming a Good Creature: ★ "Full of conviction, wisdom, and essential truths." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for How To Be A Good Creature: "A rare jewel, full of empathy and the profound wisdom Sy has received from animals she has loved over her extraordinary lifetime. This sweet book is a triumphant masterpiece that I'm recommending to everyone." — Stacey O'Brien, New York Times bestselling author

Praise for The Octopus Scientists: ★ "Through sharply crafted text, Montgomery shares her enthusiasm with readers, and Ellenbogen's vibrant color photos allow a crystalline window into a very special environment...Another enticing entry in a series devoted to highlighting enthusiastic scientists hard at work in the fields they love." — School Library Journal (starred review)

From the Publisher

★ 11/17/2023

Gr 2–5—This beautiful picture/reference book will be delightful to fans of turtles, tortoises, and terrapins everywhere. Rather than a dry recitation of facts, the narrative introduces readers to various colorful, large, small, and even a few famous turtles, all of whom are gorgeously illustrated in acrylic. The fact that several of the turtles are ones Patterson personally knows (from the illustrator's note) lends a level of authenticity to the paintings. The text is easy to read and understand, but does have several vocabulary words defined in a glossary at the end. There are also helpful hints to readers about how to help protect turtles. The vividly detailed illustrations, though, are what set this book on fire. VERDICT A stunning book that will delight readers of any age, filled with interesting facts about the turtles' life cycles, their eating habits, and even a few myths.—Jessica Durham

School Library Journal

★ 2023-02-25
A longtime ambassador for the animal kingdom introduces turtles from around the world.

Knowing just what will intrigue her readers, naturalist Montgomery starts off with a surprising statement: “Sometime around 240 million years ago…the shell invented the turtle.” She describes the ways shells define and protect turtles. She details turtles’ other physical characteristics and their unusual longevity. She gives examples of “extreme turtles”—biggest, smallest, flattest, fattest, and so forth, and species with unusual traits and/or skills. Readers will learn that the Chinese softshell terrapin is one of several species that “tinkle through their mouths.” Some South American turtles communicate through vocalizations. She also introduces some celebrity turtles, including the late Pinta Island tortoise Lonesome George, likely the last of his kind. An appealing section on the habits of baby sea turtles leads nicely into a description of turtle population decline and why turtles are a crucial part of ecosystems...which in turn leads to suggestions of how readers can help. Accompanying the smoothly written narrative are images of more than 30 species, often with features of their usual habitat, mostly set against a white background. Wildlife artist Patterson’s unobtrusively labeled acrylic paintings are realistic and detailed. Who can resist the tortoises enjoying a neck rub or shell scratch (from light-skinned human hands)? Smartly pairing two experts in wildlife portrayal, this one is not to be missed.

Splendid. (resources, glossary, bibliography) (Nonfiction. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews