Turtle Watch

by George Ancona

On the beach of a small Brazilian town called Praia do Forte, four oceanographers are working to save the endangered sea turtle. The scientists find a turtle's nest, then dig up the eggs and remove them for safekeeping. And when the eggs have hatched, they help the baby turtles make their way to the ocean.Not long ago the precious turtle eggs might have been uncovered and sold by the fishermen of Praia do Forte. But today these men--and their children--are taking the eggs to the scientists, not to market.Text and photographs depict the endangered situation of sea turtles, current efforts to protect them, and the effect of these conservation methods on those people who sell or eat the turtles.Also available in Portuguese

Genres: Cultural, Nonfiction, Animals

Paperback

First published April 1, 1988

About the author

George Ancona was an author and photographer who has published more that one hundred books, some of them bilingual. He was known for his exquisite photography and close-up looks at a variety of cultural subjects. He lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Reviews

[Sheniqua · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would recommend this book for the upper grades or more advanced readers because it contains a lot of text. The illustrations are real photographs taken in black and white of endangered sea turtles in a town called Praia do Forte. This book would be helpful in a research project about animal species. This book would be great for third grade to discuss the habitats of organisms and their dependence on their habitat. This book can be utilized in math to chart patterns in the animal's behavior.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the pictures and reading about how this group seeks to save endangered sea turtles. I especially liked the telling of how Rosa and Flavio, two children, became involved and how the adults around them supported them, teaching them and guiding them. Not preachy or heavy-handed, the author lets the issue speak for itself.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a different approach to telling about sea turtles in that it tells of efforts to save turtles more than just turtles.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scientists patrol the shores in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America for sea turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. The sea turtles are endangered species. The scientists protect the eggs from predators, both animal and human, and later release the hatchlings back into the sea.

I received training from scientists at Padre Island National Seashore last year in doing this. Though this book is almost thirty years old, the process used today to rescue sea turtles is similar to the process depicted in this book.

[Sandra Jackson - Alawine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read to children. I read it to my granddaughter. Very informative.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text-heavy and very dated, this is still a good look at sea turtle conservation efforts, and a good lesson in the idea that all of us can start today to save a species for tomorrow.