THE TURTLE AND THE MOON

A solitary turtle observes a daily round of sunning, swimming, and withdrawing into his shell for the night—until one evening he finds an unusual companion: the moon. At first, it slips behind a cloud; the turtle supposes that it is shy. Then, the moon seems to join him in the water, the turtle's playful attentions making it ever more various and lovely. Like the turtle's sport, Turner's first picture book plays imaginatively with appearance and reality. Mathis's vibrant illustrations glow with rich blues and greens that deepen from sunlit water to darker tones; her turtle is both handsome and charming. A lovely idyll, with just enough story to hold attention. (Picture book. 4-7)