Illustrated by Karen Reczuch
Published May 1, 2018
Why we chose this book:
I had seen this book as an upcoming release from Groundwood Books and was especially interested because T and I have recently been enjoying the turtles at the Ecotarium. When I requested a couple of different titles from Groundwood, they also included Turtle Pond, much to our pleasure.
Mom's Review
This poem about turtles at a local public garden evokes the feelings one has when pausing to enjoy nature.
The book describes a visit to a turtle pond, perhaps from the perspective of a young boy, though the viewpoint is never made explicit. From searching for hidden turtles to wondering why they climb on one another to watching them swim with fish, the reader experiences the turtles' day. The book is simple and lovely; I particularly enjoyed the harmony between artwork and poetry. Below are some snippets of our conversations and pictures of our post-reading visit to the turtles at our local science museum, the Ecotarium.
Son's Review
(age 3)
While reading:
Son: Why are they carrying the turtle gently back to the water?
Mom: Well, what do you think could happen if he stayed on the sidewalk?
Son: He could get squished.
Mom: So why do you think they are moving him?
Son: So he doesn't get squished.
After reading:
Son: Do you see the turtles [on the last page]?
Mom: I do. What are they doing?
Son: Coming out of their eggs!
Mom: I think that this really relates to us and somewhere we go...
Son: The Ecotarium!
Mom: Does this make you want to do anything?
Son: Go under turtle pond....snuggle the turtles. Mostly the baby turtles.
Mom: They are cute.
Son: That's why I want to snuggle them.
Mom: Did you learn anything about turtles?
Son: That there's turtle pond, that the turtles were hiding because it was cold and it was nighttime.
Mom: Do you like turtles?
Son: Oh, of course we do.
Mom: What do you like about turtles?
Son: That they're beautiful.
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