Inspired by the stories Emma reads to him, Turtle digs out of his pen and sets off to see faraway places. The backyard grass is longer than his legs so he thinks he must be in the jungle. He spies a tree stump and believes it’s an elephant’s leg. Just when he begins to worry that he’s lost, Emma rescues him—and he discovers that he never left home. Undeterred, Turtle is grateful to “have the whole world here in my backyard,” and plans to escape again tomorrow, this time to China.
About Emma’s Turtle
Emma’s turtle has a good life, but he often dreams of faraway places. Emma’s turtle lives in a backyard pen. He enjoys snacks that Emma feeds him. He also loves to listen to Emma as she tells him about faraway places such as Africa, Australia, and China. One day he decides to stop dreaming of those places and see the world beyond his pen. What will he discover? Eve Bunting’s adorable story of an adventurous turtle is delightfully illustrated by Marsha Winborn.
“Young readers should relate to an odyssey close to home.” –Kirkus Reviews
“Humorous, warm, and ultimately reassuring, this story will be appreciated by individual readers but it’s also a good choice for group read-alouds.” –School Library Journal
