Rodney Was a Tortoise
by Nan Forler (Author) Yong Ling Kang (Illustrator)
This comforting and gently humorous picture book about bereavement and the strength of friendship shows how a child overcomes the sadness of her beloved pet's death.
Bernadette and Rodney are the best of friends. Rodney's not so good at playing cards, but he's great at staring contests. His favorite food is lettuce, though he eats it VERRRRRRY SLOOOOOWLY. And he's such a joker! When Bernadette goes to sleep at night, Rodney is always there, watching over her from his tank. As the seasons pass, Rodney moves slower and slower, until one day he stops moving at all. Without Rodney, Bernadette feels all alone. She can't stop thinking about him, but none of her friends seem to notice. Except for Amar. Rodney Was a Tortoise is a moving story about friendship and loss.
This book shows the importance of expressing kindness and empathy, especially in life's most difficult moments.
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Publishers Weekly
Wry, observational writing by Forler (Trampoline Boy) and loose, frequently funny vignettes by Ling Kang (The Midnight Club) give this tale of loss its own distinctive, endearing resonance. Rodney, Bernadette's tortoise, is practically prehistoric--older than her great-aunt--and girl and reptile share a happy kinship. Watercolor and pencil illustrations capture their intimacy, as Bernadette, who has light skin and straight black hair, dresses up as a queen and holds a mirror up so Rodney can admire the miniature crown she's made for him ("She could tell he loved it"). One morning, though, Rodney doesn't wake up. "Maybe he's just holding his breath to be funny," says Bernadette, before the truth of Rodney's death launches her into mourning. Her schoolmates don't acknowledge what's happened or seem even to see her, and she copes by behaving like her old pal ("Bernadette put on her protective shell, and lumbered to school"), until compassion arrives from an unexpected place. Grieving Bernadette needs someone to meet her where she is, and classmate Amar, portrayed with brown skin, is just such a person in this quiet picture book that balances mourning and remembrance. Ages 3-7. (Feb.)
Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
K-Gr 3--A gentle look at the friendship between a young child and her pet, and inevitable loss. Rodney and Bernadette are best friends who share all of their adventures from sunup to sundown. Rodney is a wizened old tortoise with wrinkles lining his olive-green face. Bernadette is a young girl with a dark brown bob and warm brown skin. The duo eat, sleep, and play together. They enjoy games, contests, show-and-tell, and dress-up. Bernadette can tell when Rodney is smiling. He is Bernadette's faithful and loyal friend, though he moves very slowly and slower each day, until one day he stops altogether. This story of grief is honest and genuine as Bernadette struggles; she feels as though her world has stopped, while for others the world keeps whizzing by. Watercolor and pencil illustrations are charming in their simplicity. The muted palette leans heavily on grays and greens, a fitting choice for a story not only about the somber topic of loss and mourning but also about a tortoise. VERDICT A tale of grief over losing a precious pet that hits just the right note of optimism for the future. Pair with The Legend of the Rainbow Bridge and The Tenth Good Thing About Barney for readers experiencing this loss firsthand.--Monisha Blair
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
One of Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids 2022 "Wry, observational writing and loose, frequently funny vignettes by Kang give this tale of loss its own distinctive, endearing resonance." —STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly "Line breaks in Forler's warm text slow the pace and focus on moments in time. Kang's gentle watercolor and pencil illustrations touchingly depict this special relationship, making the inevitable all the more heartbreaking." —STARRED REVIEW, The Horn Book "Bernadette's happiness and grief both are conveyed through distinctive details in a narrative that adeptly balances a hard topic with moments of laugh-out-loud humor." —Cooperative Children's Book Center ". . . [T]his gentle book may resonate, bring comport, and help children work through their feelings." —CM: Canadian Review of Materials "The firm directness here makes this more an authentic exploration of grief than an assured comfort, and the focus on Bernadette's ongoing sorrow, especially as it contrasts with the bustle of an ongoing world, will resonate with readers who have suffered a recent loss or are still mourning one long past." —Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books "This is a heartwarming book about love, loss, friendship, and restoration. Children . . . who've lost a pet will be touched by this sweet tale." —Manhattan Book Review "This is a touching story with sweet illustrations that will speak to kids of all ages." —Midwest Book Review
JUV039030 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Death & Dying
JUV002240 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Turtles
Pets
Death
Picture books
Grief
Loss (Psychology)
Turtles
Testudinidae
