Tudley Didn't Know

August 1, 2006
Gr 1-3 -A young painted turtle doesn -t know much about what his species can and cannot do, so when a hummingbird accidentally drops her nest material into the water next to him, he flies up to return it. It turns out that he tries and succeeds at many things that were thought to be impossible for turtles, including flashing like a firefly and hopping like a frog. However, when he gets into trouble, it is the older turtles who can give him advice about how to rescue himself. By the end of the book, Tudley has taught them about trying new things, and they teach him some practical skills. The illustrations alternate between half- and full-page spreads that show the personalities of the pond -s denizens. Tudley is full of exuberance and joy at helping his friends, and the look on the faces of the older turtles when he flies above them is priceless. The book also includes information about the animals mentioned and activities related to the story." -Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ"

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2006
PreS-Gr. 2. When a hummingbird drops a bit of lichen into his pond, innocent young Tudley the turtle fishes it out and flies up to the bird's nest to return it. But the bird informs Tudley that "turtles can't fly." Soon Tudley is told that he can't do other things he has just done: light his tail like a firefly, hop like a frog, and sing like a katydid. When he finds himself stuck atop a pile of rocks, the other turtles explain what he " can" do. The final, wordless double-page spread shows that Tudley has also taught the other turtles a thing or two. An appended section provides information on each species that appears in the book, as well as several suggested activities. Although the story starts out like many "I'm glad to be what I am after all" picture books, the unflappable protagonist breaks away from the mold, and the story's unconventional ending is completely satisfying. The illustrations, apparently ink drawings with watercolor washes, suit the tale's mood and the hero's ingenuous spirit.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)