Turtle-Turtle and the Wide, Wide River

by Jane Hillenbrand, Will Hillenbrand (Illustrator)

Overview

Whish! Whoosh! When the river rises, Turtle-Turtle needs his friends’ help reaching higher ground in this epic, but ultimately reassuring, ode to friendship and resilience.

The rain pelted down, down, down
And the wide, wide river rose up, up, up
All around, all around.

When a storm strikes, most of the animals know what to do: Skiddaddle! But Turtle-Turtle doesn’t realize he should swim away . . . until the water rises. Although he’s scared to weather it on his own, he learns that he doesn’t have to. Comforting companions Heron and Frog help Turtle-Turtle until—bit-by-bit, friend-by-friend—he finds the strength within himself to push onwards to safer shores.

Rich with rhythm and read-aloud potential, Turtle-Turtle and the Wide, Wide River is a perfect bedtime book that masterfully melds an epic adventure with a reassuring ending. Drawing on their years of shared experience teaching and creating picture books, Jane & Will Hillenbrand offer readers a celebration of friendship and a gentle reminder that, even when you’re stuck on the stormiest seas, your loved ones will help you to stay afloat.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780823453979
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	03/12/2024
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	434,700
Product dimensions:	10.29(w) x 1.32(h) x 0.33(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

About the Author

Jane Hillenbrand is an elementary school teacher. What a Treasure! was her first picture book. Publishers Weekly called it a "warm look at appreciating the small, often unexpected, joys in one's life." She lives in Ohio with her husband, Will Hillenbrand.

Will Hillenbrand has written and illustrated a wide range of picture books for children, including the popular Bear and Mole books and the Mighty Reader series. Spring Is Here won the Please Touch Museum Book Award. What a Treasure! a Pennsylvania One Book, was written with his spouse Jane Hillenbrand.

Editorial Reviews

12/18/2023

The married creators Hillenbrand (What a Treasure!) return with another sweet, simple, and wise take on the value of friendship and self-discovery. As huge gray storm clouds swiftly roll in, all the creatures on a river island know how to react—except for young Turtle-Turtle, “too new to know what to do,” who smilingly regards a pink bloom. Despite the warnings of Heron (“Skedaddle!”), Frog (“Slip away!”), and Otter (“Swim!”), Turtle-Turtle tucks in tight (“Stay”) as “the rain pelted down, down, down,/ and the wide, wide river rose up, up, up.” Swept underwater with a big “SWOOSH,” flailing Turtle-Turtle finds his self-preservation instincts kicking in—he can “hold his breath in, in, in/ and keep his eyes open wide, wide, wide.” And in addition to this moment of experiential learning, other island species coach him on how to paddle and kick to high ground. Deft use of repetition and onomatopoeia make this a lively readaloud, while kinetic digital images of the roiling river and ominous skies evoke a just-right dose of suspense (and relief) among the cast of bright-eyed critters rendered with thickly outlined shapes. An author’s note concludes. Ages 3–6. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"A boisterously fun read-aloud. The illustrations have a tactile quality that will make readers feel they, too, are in the storm and underwater in this fun, exciting friendship story."—Booklist

"The authors’ use of alliteration, onomatopoeia, and internal and end-of-line rhymes makes this story flow effortlessly and dramatically when read aloud."—Kirkus Reviews

"The crisp text with its repetition and onomatopoeia pairs well with the colorful digital art full of pattern and movement, making this a rewarding and exciting adventure for even very young listeners."—The Horn Book

"[A] sweet, simple, and wise take on the value of friendship and self-discovery. . . Deft use of repetition and onomatopoeia make this a lively readaloud, while kinetic digital images of the roiling river and ominous skies evoke a just-right dose of suspense (and relief) among the cast of bright-eyed critters."—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

2023-12-06
Help comes in unexpected ways as a lone baby turtle battles a storm-tossed river.

Heron, Frog, and Otter all know the signs: “The reeds rustled. / The waves crashed. / The lightning flashed. / The thunder clapped, / and the rain pelted down, down, down.” Turtle-Turtle, however, is too young to understand what’s happening. So while the others run for cover, he cowers under his shell on their small island. After a climactic double-page spread in which the little reptile is tossed this way and that in the water, he learns that he can hold his breath underwater and keep his eyes open—qualities he didn’t know he had. With the support of the other animals, Turtle-Turtle reaches land once again. The authors’ use of alliteration, onomatopoeia, and internal and end-of-line rhymes makes this story flow effortlessly and dramatically when read aloud. These elements, as well as the repetition of words and a refrain, will encourage even the youngest listeners to participate. Will Hillenbrand’s digital scenes employ diagonal lines, signs of motion, and a darker palette to signal the danger, whereas the aftermath depicts a return to calm and a gradual brightening, leading to a rainbow. The book’s dedication suggests that the inexperience and resilience of children during the pandemic—and the support of helpers—were inspirations.

The target audience will appreciate this tale of getting by with a little help from one’s friends. (author’s note from Will Hillenbrand) (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews