TULA THE TURTLE

Thanks to the kindness of friends, Tula realizes her goals.

Tula, a gentle, upbeat elderly turtle, has a big heart and bigger dreams: She longs to fly all over the world. She grows sad, missing her far-away parents, whom she hasn’t seen in years, so her friends Hugo the mouse and Arnold the eagle come up with a plan. They secretly weave a basket and place Tula inside as she sleeps; Arnold then flies her off. The adventure begins: Tula rides a train, watches dolphins from a boat, attends a live performance, and visits the beach, all thanks to her friends. A concluding note explains that Tula’s story was written by six people with intellectual disabilities who took part in Cuento Contigo, a literary workshop based in Spain. Readers may wonder why Tula never visits her parents, but it’s a small point; the devotion of Tula’s friends is a reminder to readers of the transformative power of close relationships. Powerful and tender emotions are on display: Tula’s yearning for faraway relatives, as well as her ultimate relief and joy. Paniagua’s detailed illustrations add texture and depth, like the realistic, almost touchable doily on the shelf or the shadows that Hugo and Arnold cast as they pull off their plan while Tula slumbers. Carefully placed blurring in the foreground gives a cinematic flair to the artwork. This is a lovely, simple tale that invites readers to pore over its rich illustrations.

A beautiful journey and ode to friendship.