Picture Book Review: The Adventure of Thomas the Turtle

There’s nothing better than a free giveaway. Actually, there is: winning a free giveaway. So, when I entered LitPick’s giveaway to win a copy of Stuart Samuel’s picture book, The Adventure of Thomas the Turtle, I could only hope that a manila envelope would show up in the mail. And I was elated when it did. As the aunt of a brand new nephew, this is a book that I can pass down to he and his turtle-obsessed mother. Here is my review of The Adventure of Thomas The Turtle.

The Adventure of Thomas The Turtle plot summary

Thomas is a young turtle who lives in a pond with his mom and sister, Sally. Thomas’ father wandered off to a particular spot in the pond one day and never returned. So, Thomas’ mother warns him to stay away from the spot where he vanished. She believes that an evil force was responsible for his disappearance. But one day, curious Thomas decides to explore the area, and the current pulls him away. Will Thomas ever make it home?

Thomas’ story is a gentle tale that young readers will love for its short length and animal perspective. When I first learned about this book, I wondered why it wasn’t called The Adventures of Thomas the Turtle. But it really is just one adventure with one conflict and resolution.

Thomas doesn’t meet any other animal characters or use any skills or resources to find his way home again. So, he’s not so much the hero of his story. Instead, he is a victim who is saved by pure luck.

I did like the Beatrix Potter-esque detail of using the loss of a parent to preach the dangers of the world. Between Thomas’ father’s disappearance and the belief in an evil force that caused that fate, there is a sinister undertone to the story. However, the presence of an evil force is usually used to showcase an actual villain or misinterpret an unknown being or occurrence. Using the term “evil” felt like overkill in this case.

The illustrations

I have to compliment Nathaniel Dailey on his colorful yet sophisticated illustrations that help to tell this little adventure tale. The images illustrate the movement of the story. It gives motion to the water’s current and Thomas’ expressions as he struggles to keep his head above water. It also reflects the gentle tone of the characters. They contrast the powerful, aggressive elements of their surroundings. Pictures are equally as important as text when it comes to picture books. Dailey’s illustrations definitely pull their weight.

Thomas’ lesson

A good picture book needs to teach a lesson, of course. In this case, the lesson is: when parents tell you not to do something, they usually have a good reason for it. In this case, Thomas’ mom telling Thomas not to go to the forbidden part of the pond was to keep him away from danger. Of course, had he not disobeyed, there would be no story.

I think young readers can see themselves in Thomas through his curiosity and naivete. It’s okay to be curious, but it’s more important to be safe. But just knowing something is dangerous is not usually enough to stop you, despite the fact that he has seen the effects of danger through his father’s disappearance. Sometimes you have to experience it firsthand. Sometimes you have to experience the fear of making the wrong choice in order to learn from it.

This is a story that is good to discuss with a young reader. The lesson isn’t completely clear cut or preachy. So, it helps to dig a little deeper and help the child to understand where Thomas was wrong and how it’s only through luck that he got home safe.

My recommendation

Because its story requires some reflection and discussion, I would recommend this book to 3-5 year old readers who can fully grasp the morals and message. Also, the book is only a few  pages long, but there is a lot of text on each page. So, it might not hold the attention of a younger reader for that reason either.

Overall, though, it’s a cute little story with amazing illustrations. I recommend it to pre-school aged animal lovers and readers who could use a lesson in obeying their parents and exploring their surroundings safely.

Buy it!

Buy a copy of The Adventure of Thomas the Turtle here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.

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