THE SMALLEST TORTOISE OF ALL

This is a drowsy read aloud about the slow and simple pattern of life in an English kitchen garden for three tortoises -- Big, Little and Scooter. Big and Little watch in reptilian, fogeyish astonishment the fairly unamazing stunts of young Scooter who moves faster but thinks slower than they do. Jealous of their seniority, they arrive, after stately discussion, at an affection for him and this has obvious implications for older brothers or sisters hearing the book. The rather exotic diet and the completely monotonous habits of tortoises are a part of the level story line leaving only the realistic charm of the carefully drawn black and white pictures to recommend the book to any but the most devoted turtle fancier.