LUCILLE LOST

Inspired by a true incident, this fact-laced, handsomely illustrated episode follows a young pet tortoise as she lumbers into a wide but rarely threatening world. A mere stripling of 30, Lucille impulsively climbs out of her outdoor pen and takes a stroll down the street—but before she can stroll back, a friendly stranger spots her and, mistaking her for a wild turtle, transports her to a distant woodsy area. Rich in fine, accurately rendered natural detail, the pictures put viewers down at ground level with Lucille as she encounters a snake, a hostile snapping turtle and other wildlife. In a mystical turn, she meets an ancient spirit atop a Native-American effigy mound, then the next morning plants herself near a poster her worried human family has put up, and is soon rescued. Though Lucille and the other animals talk to each other, they keep something of their animal natures rather than just being humans in disguise, and both in the narrative and in side boxes the authors discuss tortoise breeds, behavior, proper care and related topics. It adds up to an engaging mix of science and story. (Picture book. 7-9)