World Turtle Day is May 23, 2023!

All tortoises are turtles. But not all turtles are tortoises! Tortoises like to live on land, while most turtles like to live in water as well as on land. Tortoises are shaped a little differently than most turtles, because they have thicker back legs and shells that are dome-shaped. And tortoises are herbivores (vegetarians) while most turtles are omnivores – they eat both plants and animals. 

Celebrate World Turtle Day 2023 with these wonderful nonfiction books about turtles (including tortoises)!

The Big Book of the Blue (Big Book) by Yuval Zommer

Turtles (National Geographic Kids: Level 1) by Laura Marsh

Sea Turtles (Our Amazing World) by Kay De Silva

A Turtle's View of the Ocean Blue by Catherine Barr

Turtles: A Compare and Contrast Book (Compare and Contrast) by Cherlyn Vatalaro

Yoshi and the Ocean: A Sea Turtle's Incredible Journey Home by Lindsay Moore

Diego, the Galápagos Giant Tortoise: Saving a Species from Extinction (Another Extraordinary Animal) by Darcy Pattison

MAKANA is a Gift: A Little Green Sea Turtle's Quest for Identity and Purpose by Janet Lucy

Reptiles (Hello, World!) by Jill McDonald

The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery

The World of Coral Reefs: Explore and Protect the Natural Wonders of the Sea by Erin Spencer

Yoshi, Sea Turtle Genius: A True Story about an Amazing Swimmer by Lynne Cox

One Turtle's Last Straw: The Real-Life Rescue That Sparked a Sea Change by Elisa Boxer

Chase the Moon, Tiny Turtle: A Hatchling's Daring Race to the Sea by Kelly Jordan

One Summer Night by Tammi Salzano