TURTLE SLEPT IN

This sweetly reassuring story of a spunky sea turtle separated from her siblings showcases the joys of the beach, celebrates the power of friendship, and hints at the life cycle of an intriguing reptile.

Turtle’s trajectory begins when she oversleeps and wakes to realize that her fellow hatchlings have left the nest. Determined to find them, she sets off toward the big blue ocean. A little brown bird cautions that “the sea is far, and the beach is not safe during the day.” When Turtle disregards the warning, Bird decides to help her reach her goal. Turtle finds plenty to distract her, including a hermit crab and a half-demolished sandcastle, but Bird patiently redirects her and reminds her to follow the trail in the sand left by her siblings. Readers will appreciate both Turtle’s eagerness to have fun and her companion’s constant support. The simplicity of the artwork matches the text’s cheerfully childlike vibe. Grant’s illustrations, created in sandy browns and watery blues, place Turtle and Bird in the forefront while the background action of people and their pets flows around them. Grant doesn’t explicitly name those actions in his text, enhancing the sense of wonder that Turtle feels as she encounters the world for the first time.

An entirely satisfying story of discovery and exploration.