♦ Turtles Frank and Terrence are two friends who are always trying to outdo one another. One day, a shell-filling contest goes sideways when Frank accidentally tumbles off the side of a cliff. Instead of attempting to assist his friend, Terrence pursues Frank, launching himself into the air in a misguided attempt to reach the ground first. Unfortunately, falling off the side of a cliff is a dangerous activity, and the two friends must decide whether they have the capacity to work together to live to see another competition-fueled day. This unexpected and entertaining picture book begins in freefall, immediately creating a sense of urgency and cartoon peril that will delight young readers. The narrative breaks the fourth wall, explaining exactly what is happening in intentionally brief dialogue that keeps readers on the edges of their seats. Some pages include text while others are just illustrations, done in an appealingly blocky style and a cool palette of murky greens and light coral, depicting Terrence and Frank in various comedic representations of their flailing descent. These wordless images enhance the appeal of the book by allowing space for readers to pause, increasing the dramatic tension. Additional opportunities for readers to directly interact with the book appear throughout, encouraging audience participation in storytime settings.VERDICT Unexpected, delightful, and entertaining, this is a unique and enjoyable addition to read aloud collections for preschool-age readers.
—School Library Journal, starred review
Two competitive turtles end up in a literal race to the bottom in this fourth-wall-breaking picture book. In the midst of their latest contest, Frank toppled over a cliff. He then challenged Terrence to beat him to the bottom, so Terrence jumped after him; the only way to break their fall is to convince them to work together. Amusing illustrations make ample use of white space as the turtles fall, while other pages are devoted entirely to the flower-speckled cliff face they zip past.
—Foreword
Terrence and Frank are two very competitive turtles who are in a predicament. They are both falling from a cliff. Just before the fall, they were comparing to see who could fit the most things into their shell. When Frank fell off the cliff, Terrence jumped so the two could race to see who would reach the bottom first. The narrator reveals that if the two turtles work together, they can both survive. The question is whether Terrence and Frank can put aside their rivalry and combine forces to save their lives. The illustrations capture the drama between the two turtles, highlighting their wide, fearful eyes and the smirk of a challenge accepted on Frank’s and Terrence’s faces. Teachers may find this book a good read-aloud that prompts discussion about competitive spirit and sportsmanship. Children may like to brainstorm and suggest ways for the two turtles to resolve their conflicts.
—Children’s Literature
A tale of two turtles engaged in the world’s dopiest contest.
“You see, with Frank and Terrence, everything is a competition,” explains an omniscient narrator. In the past, these forest-dwelling turtles have competed over things like whose shell is shinier and who can walk more slowly, but “today it was who can fit the most stuff in their shell.” Midway through, Frank accidentally tips backward and falls off a cliff, and during his descent, he yells up at Terrence, “Bet I can beat you to the bottom!” To Terrence, those are fighting words, so he jumps off the cliff. Now what? As the narrator points out, “There is one thing that could save them. But they’ll have to work together.” The story is hilarious, the resolution rather ingenious. (Hint: It concerns what’s packed inside the turtles’ shells—and “you wouldn’t believe what they had in there.”) The art presents a couple of dapper turtles: Each has a snazzy pattern on his shell and wears a hat so small it serves no purpose…kind of like Frank’s and Terrence’s competitions? Taking it all in is a little bird who says nothing but is surely wondering the same thing as readers: If there must be a contest about who can fit the most stuff in his shell, why have it on the edge of a cliff?
Sublime silliness embedded with a serious point about the folly of senseless competition.
—Kirkus Reviews
