YOSHI, SEA TURTLE GENIUS

This true story of a loggerhead turtle that has swum farther than any animal known to scientists is told by an American who has herself shattered countless records for long-distance swimming.

Cox follows the turtle from her birth on an Australian beach to the moment she was caught in a net, then rescued by a Japanese fisherman (who named her Yoshi, meaning “good luck”). The fisherman treated her wounds, fed her squid, and eventually took her to the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa. Yoshi stayed there for 20 years, but the curator, behaviorists, and veterinarian decided to return her to the ocean, training her for endurance then releasing her with a tracking device. That is how the world knows Yoshi traversed 22,998 miles to lay eggs on the Australian shore where her life began. Cox’s language is lovely, her descriptions helpful for young listeners. Imagining Yoshi’s early life, Cox writes that the hatchling is “just the size of a smile.” As the turtle grows, her bulk is compared to a cat, then a lion. In addition to luminous double-page spreads and delicate spot art, Jones employs stacked horizontal panels that cross the gutter to emphasize the passage of time as the swimmer progresses. Six blue circular vignettes depict the animal’s struggle to breathe when she is snagged in the net. Cox’s author’s note explains that though she speculated about some of Yoshi’s life, everything after her rescue is documented. Humans depicted are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A mesmerizing glimpse at the miracles of the natural world.