Official Review: Turtles on a Log by Lynnie Pea

[Laura Lee]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Turtles on a Log" by Lynnie Pea.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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The late Maya Angelou wrote, "Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him." As a homeschooling mother of five, I am always on the lookout for good quality, well-written children’s books.

Turtles on a Log is an utterly charming children’s storybook from the pen of Lynnie Pea. The story centers on a group of mammalian, reptilian, aquatic, and avian friends gathered at a lake. They are excited to make a new friend in Baby Zake, a young turtle. The book ends with the suggestion that more stories are on the way about the adventures of this happy group of friends.

The story is told in a whimsical sing-song rhythm. There are frequent repetitions of specific phrases in the time-honored tradition of beloved children’s songs such as “A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea,” “Over in the Meadow,” and “I Know an Old Woman.” This repetition makes it an ideal storybook for very young children as it provides the reader with the opportunity to make the story interactive by asking the child, “Where is the snake? Can you find the turtle? Which one is the heron?” Young children love such interaction during story time and it has the added benefit of helping them learn different kinds of creatures.

Full-color illustrations cover every page, providing a cheerful accompaniment to the narrative. One point that I particularly appreciated was that the background color behind the words was lighter, making it easier to read. This may seem like a small matter, but that attention to detail contributes to making this a very well-written, easy-to-read picture book. There were some editing issues, but these had to do almost entirely with missing commas and one (possible) missing word. The words themselves were all spelled correctly. There was nothing in the story itself that I disliked.

Award-winning children’s author, Emilie Buchwald, once observed, “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading to his or her child or grandchild. The words might be a bit too advanced for beginning readers, but it is perfect for reading to young children. While the book could stand an additional round of editing to bring it to perfection, there weren’t enough errors to warrant subtracting a star from the book’s rating. The musical rhythm and flow of the words, the visual appeal, and the winsome storyline all earn Turtles on a Log four out of four stars.

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Turtles on a Log
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[jardenjarden]

I love children's books that have a natural sing-song rhythm to them! It makes reading to young kids so much more fun, as then we are able to make up our own tune. I will definitely add this to my list of recommendations for my cousins. Thank you for your wonderful review!

[Laura Lee]

I love children's books that have a natural sing-song rhythm to them! It makes reading to young kids so much more fun, as then we are able to make up our own tune. I will definitely add this to my list of recommendations for my cousins. Thank you for your wonderful review!

Kudos to you for making reading time with your cousins! It really is a fun book. Thanks for your comment!

[Valkyrie9]

What a cute story! I am sure this would make a valuable addition to any library, at home or at school. Thanks for the stunning review.

[Laura Lee]

What a cute story! I am sure this would make a valuable addition to any library, at home or at school. Thanks for the stunning review.

It really is a cute story. Thanks for your comment!

[kdstrack]

The picture of the turtles on the log and the repetition of the phrase almost makes you want to sing the story! This sounds like one of those, "Read it again!" books that kids just love. (Down by the bay?? Have you ever seen, turtles on a log!!) I enjoyed all your insights about this book. Great review!

[Alice Festo]

Turtles on a log is an interesting title that captures one's curiosity. I like that the book is interactive and musical this definitely captures the attention of children. Thanks for the wonderful review.

[Damis Seres Rodriguez]

Looks like a lovely read. Great review!

[Ada Ling]

"Full-color illustrations cover every page, providing a cheerful accompaniment to the narrative" - I like children books with great pictures. Looks this one achieved this and it is a great read. Thank you for the introduction!

[Ify_Reviewer]

I love children's books especially when it is well illustrated. Thanks for the review.

[Josephe-Anne]

What a lovely review! From the rhythm and writing style to the font and interactive questions contained in the story, you paid attention to every detail. The quotes you included ring true. I also appreciate the personal touch you added by mentioning your large family. (Five kids! Wow!)

Thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable review.

[Queen Youngblood]

I love books that keeps a child mind sharp and exploring different things. To me when a book is well illustrated and worded it will keep the child wanting more to read. I have 5 granddaughters and they love to read. Thanks for this one.

[Tonika632]

I adore children's books and this one is so cute and full of lessons to be learned. Great review!

[Comfortable5]

From the review, I guess the book will so helpful for children.
The review sounds amazing