The Town of Turtle

by Michelle Cuevas (Author) Catia Chien (Illustrator)

The Town of Turtle
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
In Turtle's shell there's room for only one. But in Turtle's heart, there is room for everyone! This tale of a lonely turtle who comes out of his shell to find friendship and community celebrates diversity and inclusion. When a solitary turtle decides to make some renovations to his shell, he doesn't have a blueprint, only a dream for a better life. He starts by building a deck--though he figures the deck could use a fireplace. And a fireplace needs wood, so naturally, he plants a garden. But it isn't really a garden without a pond . . . Soon, Turtle can barely recognize his own shadow. Finally satisfied with the intricate world upon his back, word begins to spread of the magical "Town of Turtle," attracting newcomers from far and wide. All are welcome in Turtle's town, where life is a little less lonely, if only you come out of your shell.
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School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--Turtle is a dreamer, a deep thinker, and is somewhat particular. In choosing a color to freshen his walls, he contemplates the best green to match: "Not as bright as grass or lily shoot. But also not as dark as evergreen, or, say, envy." To use the leftover paint, he adds a deck to the exterior. As often happens in decorating, one thing leads to another. He imagines inviting neighbors to toast marshmallows, so he needs a fireplace. That necessitates wood, requiring trees. Soon there is a library, skating rink, and wax museum. Chien's ever-transforming acrylic, pencil, and collage compositions are well suited to the protagonist's fanciful vision. While Turtle's world starts in darkness, he is eventually constructing under a sky dotted with O'Keeffe-like clouds and gliding past lily pads in a pond worthy of Monet. While resting, his dreams about friends moving to town are rendered in vivid bursts of expressionistic forms. A gatefold opening reveals the vertical city in all its resplendent glory. Washed in blue, the denouement reveals cozy bedtime rituals. Perhaps that's what Turtle wanted all along--someone to call to in the dark. VERDICT Elegant language, childlike logic, and enthralling art invite readers into a marvelous community.--Wendy Lukehart, District of Columbia Public Library

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

Turtle lives on his own planet in the middle of a lonely galaxy. With only his shadow to talk to, he decides "to make some renovations to his shell." Chien's dreamlike mixed-media images move from grays to bright colors as Turtle imagines a village of houses that she draws with wobbly splashes of lime, lavender, and fuchsia. Back in the waking world, Turtle orders paint, builds a deck, and installs a fireplace, garden, and pond atop his shell, and soon there's a library and ice rink, too. They're all rendered in expressionist spreads, drawn not for laughs but with a sense of wonder. Turtle's tower of creations teeters precariously above his planet, and soon everybody wants to visit. A giraffe, a whale in a mobile aquarium, a painter, a sailor, and others move in, and an exuberant vertical gatefold celebrates the new community, where all seems possible and every living thing is welcome. Ages 4-7. Author's agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management. Illustrator's agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Apr.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"Elegant language, childlike logic, and enthralling art invite readers into a marvelous community."—School Library Journal "Thoughtful, thought-provoking, and filled with engaging language."—Kirkus "Expressionist spreads, drawn not for laughs but with a sense of wonder."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review—No Source
Michelle Cuevas
Michelle Cuevas is the author of The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Erin E. Stead, among others. Visit michellecuevas.com.

Catia Chien is an avid painter and has produced work for the children's book market, film and animation industries, comic book anthologies, and galleries. Visit catiachien.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780544749825
Lexile Measure
600
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Clarion Books
Publication date
April 10, 2018
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV010000 - Juvenile Fiction | Bedtime & Dreams
JUV039250 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emigration & Immigration
JUV002240 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Turtles
Library of Congress categories
Loneliness
Building
Turtles

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