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The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil
Winner of Parents' Choice Award & Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year Turtle loves to dance and play the flute. But her exuberance puts her at risk when her music attracts the attention of a brave hunter who brings her home to make turtle stew. After she is caught, her only hope for escape is the hunter's children ... and her own wit. This folktale, first told by the indigenous people of Brazil, is now told throughout Latin America. Like the people of Latin America, Turtle always seems to survive any challenge by using her courage and wit. Beautiful watercolors radiant with the dense foliage and hardy wildlife of the Amazon rain forest, guides the reader through this timeless adventure story. These rainforest stories will teach readers the importance of resourcefulness.
- GenresPicture BooksBrazil
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 25, 1998
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Pleasant DeSpain
33 books11 followersPleasant DeSpain is a world traveler, storyteller and author of 18 published books,and more than 350 stories. He's currently living in Northern Thailand as well as the USA, while working on a collection of stories from his 70 plus years of life and adventures. The goal of the new work is to share his practical as well as spiritual journey. Pleasant does not have answers or truths for others, but he has many good stories to tell!
His many collections of folk and fairy tales, legends and original tales, most of which are published by August House Publishers, Atlanta, Georgia, continue to be in circulation and used in schools throughout the United States and other countries. These stories endure and will always be relevant in our various cultures and societies.
His many collections of folk and fairy tales, legends and original tales, most of which are published by August House Publishers, Atlanta, Georgia, continue to be in circulation and used in schools throughout the United States and other countries. These stories endure and will always be relevant in our various cultures and societies.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 11, 2025
Turtle dances and plays her flute in this picture book retelling of an indigenous folktale from Brazil, unaware that a human hunter is watching her, and plotting to make her into soup. Captured after she goes to sleep, she is brought back to the hunter's home, and imprisoned in a cage of strong sticks. Leaving to work in the fields, the hunter warns his children not to set the captive free, but those children are enchanted by Turtle's music, and long to see her dance. And so begins the process whereby Turtle tricks the children and wins her freedom...
Given the relative paucity of picture book retellings of South American folktales, I wanted to like The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil more than I did. It is my first book from author Pleasant DeSpain, who has written numerous folktale collections, and is also my first exposure to illustrator David Boston's work. I found the story interesting, and was not put off, as some other online reviewers were, by Turtle's trickery, as she has been taken captive, and fighting for her life. Also, she seems to be a trickster figure of sorts, so it is only to be expected in this case. I also appreciated the brief author's note at the rear, discussing how widespread this story is in Latin America and listing the source material for this variant, collected by 19th-century Brazilian politician, military officer and folklorist José Vieira Couto de Magalhães in his 1876 O Selvagem ("The Savage"). I do wish that the ethnic and/or tribal origin of this specific story had been specified, but perhaps it isn't known. All this being said, visually this book did not appeal to me. The artwork was colorful, sometimes too much so for my taste, and although I enjoyed some of Boston's depictions of Turtle and the other animals, his human depictions sometimes felt a little off to me. I also wasn't a fan of the overall design of the book, especially the use of chunky black text/type. These aesthetic concerns are personal, of course, and tastes may vary, so I still rated this at three stars, and would recommend it to young folklore enthusiasts, particularly those interested in stories from Brazil and Latin America in general.
Given the relative paucity of picture book retellings of South American folktales, I wanted to like The Dancing Turtle: A Folktale from Brazil more than I did. It is my first book from author Pleasant DeSpain, who has written numerous folktale collections, and is also my first exposure to illustrator David Boston's work. I found the story interesting, and was not put off, as some other online reviewers were, by Turtle's trickery, as she has been taken captive, and fighting for her life. Also, she seems to be a trickster figure of sorts, so it is only to be expected in this case. I also appreciated the brief author's note at the rear, discussing how widespread this story is in Latin America and listing the source material for this variant, collected by 19th-century Brazilian politician, military officer and folklorist José Vieira Couto de Magalhães in his 1876 O Selvagem ("The Savage"). I do wish that the ethnic and/or tribal origin of this specific story had been specified, but perhaps it isn't known. All this being said, visually this book did not appeal to me. The artwork was colorful, sometimes too much so for my taste, and although I enjoyed some of Boston's depictions of Turtle and the other animals, his human depictions sometimes felt a little off to me. I also wasn't a fan of the overall design of the book, especially the use of chunky black text/type. These aesthetic concerns are personal, of course, and tastes may vary, so I still rated this at three stars, and would recommend it to young folklore enthusiasts, particularly those interested in stories from Brazil and Latin America in general.
June 21, 2023
This traditional folktale from Brazil is set in the deep, dark depths of the Amazon Rainforest. A female turtle lead has a passion for playing her flute which evokes her to dance, until one day she is captured and caged by an indigenous man that wants to make her into turtle soup. Packed full with didactic messages (e.g. don't be a show-off, always watch your back, and keep your wits about you, using your talents and skills to out smart the opposer), this tale is a great one to unpick with a class to get their view of the messages. Can be linked to a geography topic of Non-European countries (KS1) to make comparisons of physical and human geog. The illustrations are a great stimuli to really enter the books setting! Would recommend. As you read again and again, more messages are presumed. Has a repetitive sentence which children are able to recite.
July 25, 2017
(I'm very depressed so I tend to look for stories on Cool Animals Concepts. Bear with me. I wanted to see if there were ebooks on dancing turtles, so I found this.)
Aww. A folk tale about a dancing turtle who plays music. And by doing so, escapes the terrible fate of being food. Good. Turtles are (as far as folk tales go, musical) friends, not food. OK, it's a tale for children, and it's good at that, too! I'm completely overthinking the ethical implications of saving yourself through music and art, so I'm just going to say it's totally OK to save yourself through a little bit of guile and music and art. Because there's few things as bad as the destruction of music and art. Kids, save what you create. Fight for your creativity and for your ability to create. Future depends on it.
Aww. A folk tale about a dancing turtle who plays music. And by doing so, escapes the terrible fate of being food. Good. Turtles are (as far as folk tales go, musical) friends, not food. OK, it's a tale for children, and it's good at that, too! I'm completely overthinking the ethical implications of saving yourself through music and art, so I'm just going to say it's totally OK to save yourself through a little bit of guile and music and art. Because there's few things as bad as the destruction of music and art. Kids, save what you create. Fight for your creativity and for your ability to create. Future depends on it.
May 22, 2018
The illustrations of the Amazon rainforest burst with life and color. I liked how the turtle outsmarted the man who was planning on making her into turtle soup. I wish the overall message was a little more humane--such as the kids convincing their dad not to try and capture the turtle again after they befriended her.
May 3, 2018
3 1/2 stars
I especially love the illustrations in this book, each page filled with the amazing plants and creatures from the region.
I especially love the illustrations in this book, each page filled with the amazing plants and creatures from the region.
November 6, 2016
Title : The Dancing Turtle
Author: Pleasant DeSpain
Illustrator : David Boston
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Music, Dance, Family, Jungle/Forest, Animals, Promises, Cleverness, Hunting Killing, Tribes, Suspense, Uncertainty
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): Long ago, on the banks of the mighty Amazon River, Turtle played her flute while enjoying the sun.
Brief Book Summary :This story is about a turtle who can play the flute and dance, the turtle is captured and brought back to a tribe and locked in a cage. The turtle tricks the children of the tribe to let him out of the cage to play music and then naps. The turtle escapes and the story ends with the father of the children going out to hunt for the turtle again.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Julie Corsaro (Booklist, May 1, 1998 (Vol. 94, No. 17))
DeSpain's extensive storytelling experience comes through in this well-honed trickster tale from Latin America. It opens in the Brazilian rain forest as a flute-playing turtle is captured by a hungry man. Locked in a cage, Turtle tells the man's children that she will dance for them if they let her out. Turtle twirls, bobs, weaves, jumps, and crawls. Then pretending to be hot and tired, she escapes. The quality of the artwork isn't up to that of the text. However, the paintings, dominated by shades of green and punctuated by reds, oranges, and yellows, capture the diverse flora and fauna (people included) of theregion. This lighthearted tale ends on an understanding note as theboy and girl try--but fail--to pass off a painted rock as their missing dinner. For large collections. Category: For the Young. 1998, August House, $15.95. Ages 5-8.
(PUBLISHER: August House LittleFolk (Little Rock:), PUBLISHED: c1998.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: A. Braga (Parent Council Volume 6)
An old indigenous tale from the South American jungle, the "DancingTurtle" is a story of courage and wit. Having grown up in Brazil, I remember this fable about creative imagination in different forms. The storyteller captures it well, while the illustrations make you feel as if you were in the Amazon forest. 1998, August House Little Folk, $15.95. Ages 5 to 10.
(PUBLISHER: August House LittleFolk (Little Rock:), PUBLISHED: c1998.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews discuss how this book is a trickster tale that is full of “courage” and “wit”. The two reviews are at odds when it comes to illustrations, one review think s the illustrations, recognizing that the painting, full of mainly green, red and oranges are not as good as the texts themselves while the other thinks the paintings make you feel like you were in an actual Amazon forest. I agree with the second review, I found the illustrations extremely important to the story and do make you feel as if you are in the Amazon forest.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book is approachable for some readers depending on their age level and maturity level. The illustrations enhance the story and the illustrator’s depiction of the turtle is fantastically detailed. The turtle’s shell is rounded and the lines on his cage are drawn well, showing a separation and problem the turtle must face. The plot is different, allowing readers to hear an older tale with exciting action and pictures added.
Consideration of Instructional Application : This book is suitable for preschool to first graders. I personally would not choose it as a book to read in my classroom. I am not a fan of the overall theme and do not like having some animal possibly being killed as a main idea in the book, especially if you teach in an area of high crime. I also think the theme of tricking people to get what you want is not appropriate to teach young children. If need be students could dance and sing when the turtle does as I read the story.
Author: Pleasant DeSpain
Illustrator : David Boston
Genre: Myth
Theme(s): Music, Dance, Family, Jungle/Forest, Animals, Promises, Cleverness, Hunting Killing, Tribes, Suspense, Uncertainty
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): Long ago, on the banks of the mighty Amazon River, Turtle played her flute while enjoying the sun.
Brief Book Summary :This story is about a turtle who can play the flute and dance, the turtle is captured and brought back to a tribe and locked in a cage. The turtle tricks the children of the tribe to let him out of the cage to play music and then naps. The turtle escapes and the story ends with the father of the children going out to hunt for the turtle again.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: Julie Corsaro (Booklist, May 1, 1998 (Vol. 94, No. 17))
DeSpain's extensive storytelling experience comes through in this well-honed trickster tale from Latin America. It opens in the Brazilian rain forest as a flute-playing turtle is captured by a hungry man. Locked in a cage, Turtle tells the man's children that she will dance for them if they let her out. Turtle twirls, bobs, weaves, jumps, and crawls. Then pretending to be hot and tired, she escapes. The quality of the artwork isn't up to that of the text. However, the paintings, dominated by shades of green and punctuated by reds, oranges, and yellows, capture the diverse flora and fauna (people included) of theregion. This lighthearted tale ends on an understanding note as theboy and girl try--but fail--to pass off a painted rock as their missing dinner. For large collections. Category: For the Young. 1998, August House, $15.95. Ages 5-8.
(PUBLISHER: August House LittleFolk (Little Rock:), PUBLISHED: c1998.)
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: A. Braga (Parent Council Volume 6)
An old indigenous tale from the South American jungle, the "DancingTurtle" is a story of courage and wit. Having grown up in Brazil, I remember this fable about creative imagination in different forms. The storyteller captures it well, while the illustrations make you feel as if you were in the Amazon forest. 1998, August House Little Folk, $15.95. Ages 5 to 10.
(PUBLISHER: August House LittleFolk (Little Rock:), PUBLISHED: c1998.)
Response to Two Professional Reviews: Both reviews discuss how this book is a trickster tale that is full of “courage” and “wit”. The two reviews are at odds when it comes to illustrations, one review think s the illustrations, recognizing that the painting, full of mainly green, red and oranges are not as good as the texts themselves while the other thinks the paintings make you feel like you were in an actual Amazon forest. I agree with the second review, I found the illustrations extremely important to the story and do make you feel as if you are in the Amazon forest.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: This book is approachable for some readers depending on their age level and maturity level. The illustrations enhance the story and the illustrator’s depiction of the turtle is fantastically detailed. The turtle’s shell is rounded and the lines on his cage are drawn well, showing a separation and problem the turtle must face. The plot is different, allowing readers to hear an older tale with exciting action and pictures added.
Consideration of Instructional Application : This book is suitable for preschool to first graders. I personally would not choose it as a book to read in my classroom. I am not a fan of the overall theme and do not like having some animal possibly being killed as a main idea in the book, especially if you teach in an area of high crime. I also think the theme of tricking people to get what you want is not appropriate to teach young children. If need be students could dance and sing when the turtle does as I read the story.
October 9, 2008
Uhhh... OK. Well, I didn't like the pictures except a couple where the turtle looked kind of cute playing her flute. I liked that it's a folktale which honors Turtle's courage and wit. But, overall, this was weird. And I didn't like that the father wanted to make turtle soup. The nerve.
April 18, 2016
Absolutely beautifully illustrated book about a turtle captured for turtle stew. The turtle plays the flute and dances. She tricks her captors children into helping her escape. Great to read to K-2.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews