The Turtle Who Turned the Tide

It’s the day of the Grand Hatching and all the animals have gathered to watch the baby turtles make their way to the ocean. Tula and her brother, Tiny, are amongst them and Tula finds herself the favourite to win the race to the water. However, she suddenly realises that Tiny has gone off course. She bravely decides to turn back and find him and when they find themselves facing danger, all the animals unite to save Tula and Tiny and see them safely to the water.

Since ‘The Lion Inside’ Rachel Bright and Jim Field have been delighting readers with gorgeous stories, ringing with positive messages and joy. Like the others, ‘The Turtle Who Turned the Tide’ combines vivid engaging illustrations with a heart-warming story about the power of change and communities working together for good.

The rhyming text is an absolute joy to read aloud, rising and falling with the action of the story. Tula chooses to help her brother above winning the race, showing the importance of kindness. Her example to the other animals inspires them in turn to gather together and rally round when needed, making sure Tula and Tiny escape the jaws of Snake and happily end up in the ocean with the other baby turtles. The element of peril is very well handled with the word ‘but…’ at the bottom of the page hinting that something is going to save the siblings!

The illustrations are just wonderful, helping to immerse the reader in the story. There are many points to pause and linger over the pictures, perhaps discussing them in more detail. Children might wish to discover more about turtles, their hatching and first journey to the sea. They might enjoy making a simple origami model or a felt finger puppet of a turtle and use these to act out the story whilst reading. With older readers, the meaning of ‘turned the tide’ and how this is shown in the story would generate some interesting discussions!

Another triumph from this team!

The Turtle Who Turned the Tide

Rachel Bright, illustrated by Jim Field

Orchard ISBN: 978-1408366448

You can read my review of ‘The Pandas Who Promised’ here, The Koala Who Could here, The Squirrels Who Squabbled here, The Way Home for Wolf here and The Whale Who Wanted More here.

The Pandas Who Promised

Red panda cubs, Popo and Ketu, live with their mama ‘high on a mountain, where clouds drift in billows’. Very different personalities, the two sisters promise to stay close to their mother and to always look out for each other. However, Ketu’s longing for adventure leads her to set off on an adventure to explore the very places their mama has said they must not go, leaving Popo with a difficult choice…

Coming soon in paperback, ‘The Pandas Who Promised’ is the latest in the highly successful series of books combining the talents of Rachel Bright and Jim Field which started with ‘The Lion Inside’.

It is not hard to see why these books are so popular with children- and with their adults! Rachel’s text is always an absolute joy to read aloud and this book is no exception. There is a comfortable familiarity to the rhythm of the words and a richness to the vocabulary which makes it both lyrical and satisfying. Children quickly find themselves joining in with certain words, anticipating and enjoying the peril the pandas encounter whilst secure in the knowledge that everything will work out fine in the end!

So much more than a cautionary tale, the story allows readers to explore the value of keeping promises, of being able to trust one another and staying safe. Mama’s response to her returning cubs is warm and sound, showing the importance of listening to one another and sharing feelings. The love this little family shares is beautifully captured through both the text and the (gorgeous!) illustrations, with Popo sticking by her sister and not deserting Ketu when she faces great danger.

Jim Field’s illustrations are absolutely wonderful and are sure to trigger great interest in red pandas and their habitat. Some of the landscapes he has created capture the same beauty as pictures painted in the traditional Chinese style which I brought back from my travels there many years ago. Evocative and ethereal, they make the book a thing of beauty!

A gorgeous addition to the series- and perhaps my new favourite!

The Pandas Who Promised

Rachel Bright and Jim Field

Hachette ISBN: 978-1408356104

You can read my review of The Koala Who Could here, The Squirrels Who Squabbled here, The Way Home for Wolf here and The Whale Who Wanted More here.