Tudley Didn't Know

Physical & Behavioral Adaptation

by John Himmelman

Tudley, a pond-living painted turtle, adopts other animals’ behaviors―simply because he doesn’t know he can’t! He flies like a bird, sings like a katydid, hops like a frog, and glows like a firefly. All the while, he uses his special behaviors to help other animals. But will Tudley’s new friends help him when he needs help? The “For Creative Minds” education section includes fun facts about painted turtles, rubythroated hummingbirds, fireflies, leopard frogs, and true katydids. It also contains a “Make a Hopping Tudley” craft, a recipe for hummingbird sugar water, a “Creative Sparks” section, and a “Food for Thought” section.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Fiction, Childrens, Spanish Literature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 20, 2006

About the author

John Himmelman is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including Chickens to the Rescue. He lives in Connecticut with his family.

According John's Facebook page, he has been "making up stories and scribbling pictures since I could hold a crayon in my hand. It became my job in 1981, when my first book, "Talester the Lizard" was published during my last year in college (School of Visual Arts)....It behooves a writer to try and turn what interests them into their work. I've been fortunate to do that with my love of nature, with books - for adults and children - focusing on different natural history topics."

Reviews

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

By process of elimination, Tudley learns that he is different from other animals that he befriends. The story is designed to interest young readers in natural history, and it's vividly illustrated.

As an educational venture, aiming to promote interest in natural history, I'd have to call this picture book a success. Animal lovers of all ages can learn fun facts, such as "Turtles can't hop."

I also commend the writer and illustrator John Himmelman for delivering a story with plenty of human interest. Plus those eye-catching illustrations.

Based on all of this, I'll rate this book at FIVE STARS.

PERSONALLY, THOUGH?

This story didn't work for me. In real life... (Which would include natural history, yes?) Do animals try to make friends in the matter of humans? Which is to say, in the manner of Tudley, the painted turtle, as the main plot in this storybook? Also....

Why would a turtle hang out with katydids or fireflies? Why would they hang out with him?

Finally, as with so many other picture books, I'm left wondering: "Where are the parents? Who is taking care of this child?"

[Connor Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tudley doesn't know that he isn't supposed to be able to fly, have a tail that glows, and hop. Each time he does these things, the other animals around him nervously or matter-of-factly tell him what turtles can and cannot do. Suddenly, Tudley finds himself on his shell, unable to move. The turtles are called and they teach him to go into his shell, pivot his center of gravity again and again, then roll back to a position where he returns to being mobile! He shouts that he "didn't know he could do that" and flies away laughing.

I loved this book because the center of the story is about discovering what you can and cannot do by doing it. Your very own community might tell you, based on what you are, that you can or cannot do something, but does that really matter if you, in all actuality, CAN do it?? It is important to learn about life from life and maybe not necessarily from the limits that the people we come into contact with set for us.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spotted this 2007–2008 Beehive Book Award Nominee on the library shelf today and had to set it aside to read. My goodness, I love this story! I need to figure out a lesson plan to go with this awesome book.

Story: 5
Illustrations: 5
Read-aloud: 5

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flying turtles? This book made my day :D

[DaNae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just how will you know hat can be done if you don't give it a go?

[Tris Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

a fun, whimsical read.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful surprising.

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has it all--an engaging story, wonderful characters, exquisite illustrations, facts about the real animals these characters are based on, and activities/ideas that can be used with the book. Tudley is a turtle who likes to try new things--and the story revolves around the adventures he has as he tries new things that he didn't know turtles didn't do. Wonderful story about trying new things--but not forgetting our roots. The back of the book offers great info about the real animals depicted in the story (painted turtles, fireflies, frogs) and the story combined with this information would work wonderfully as a lead-in to a variety of units--animals, habitats, personal growth--the options are really open on this one.

This year (2011), I paired Tudley with a nonfiction title, Turtles Take Their Time. This worked wonderfully for compare/contrast fiction and nonfiction.

There are some editorial problems with the book, which I hope may be fixed if the title is reprinted.

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today we team up with Associate Professor Vivian Vasquez of the Critical Literacy In Practice (CLIP) Podcast to bring you two distinct discussions of Tudley Didn’t Know, a completely entertaining, modern fable about the power of believing we can.

Click the link below hear our Just One More Book discussion, pop over to the CLIP Podcast to hear the story unpacked from the critical literacy perspective, and then share your thoughts on the subject by posting comments on either of our sites (or both).

Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:

http://www.justonemorebook.com/2007/0...

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a pretty clear theme: don't sell yourself short. Tudley is a young turtle that doesn't know that he can't do many of the things he observes other animals doing. Therefore, he's willing to try to do them and is surprisingly successful. Tudley is able to fly, glow, hop, and play music just as he observes other animals doing. When he's in trouble, he learns from the other turtles just how valuable his shell is, and slowly, the other turtles learn to look less at their own percieved limitations and try things themselves. Good book. I really liked it. The last couple of pages contain factual information about all the animals involved in the story. Very nicely presented.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 Stars I have mixed emotions about this book. First, I love that Tudley does things like fly, but every tells him "Turtles don't Fly" and Tudley says "I didn't know" Basically this books is about 'the skies the limit'. He didn't know he couldn't hop, because he could hop...but Turtles don't hop?? I like that it is all about not letting things you want to do stand in your way. The world was flat, until someone found out it wasn't... "I didn't know?" Man could go to the moon. men can't go to the moon, until a space craft landed there. I liked but wouldn't say love. I like turtles so it got a higher rating than normal!

[Agnes Mukoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was written by John Himmelman in March 10,2007. It is about a Turtle called Tudley that lives with other turtles in a pond. He does anything he wants because he doesn't know he can't. Tudley flies like a bird, sings like a katydid, hops like a frog, and glow like a fire. It teaches children not to consider their limitations, but their possibilities. The illustrations are detailed and colorful. The back of the book has scientific information on the creatures in the book as well as directions for making a whimsical hopping turtle. It promote social-emotional and cognitive development.

[Ariel S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Tudley Didn't Know
Author: John Himmelman. He writes children's book based in nature. He got his first book published by showing it to his teacher who knew a publisher.
Illustrator: John Himmelman.
Review: This is a cute and entertaining science children's book for ages 3-7 years of age. It has great illustrations. The book also contains good vocabulary words and onomatopoeia. The book also contains animal movement content. Lastly, it contains social-emotional aspects, as well as great friendship relationship.

[Tionna Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tudley didn't know was honestly one of the greatest children's books I have read in awhile. I love the imagination that little tudley has and doing whatever it is his little heart desired. Whenever he saw something he liked whether it was flying, leaping, singing or glowing if he liked it he tried it because it was something he liked and wanted to do. Tudley did not give up and became the talk of the pond with all his new found skills, it just goes to show that it is ok to do the unexpected because you may turn out to be great at it if it is what you really want to do.

[Holly N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tudley Didn't Know by John Himmelman is a charming tale full of imagination and whimsy of a turtle named Tudley who uses his abilities to help others. Belief in oneself and helping others are strong messages throughout this narrative. This book is filled with wonderfully realistic illustrations of the habit of the animals in the story along with information about each animal, which can be useful to read for a unit on science.

[Elise Xuereb · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, "Tudley Didn't Know", Tudley finds out that he is a turtle. He cannot fly like hummingbirds, glow like fireflies, hop like frogs, nor play music like katydids. The illustrations are very colorful and fun to look at. This story teaches children about the different creatures that live in the forest. Also, listed in the back of the book, you will find information describing the many creatures talked about in the story.

Genre: Children's Picture Book

[Brittany Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tudley didn't know is a very interesting book. I feel it’s a great book that teaches children you are able to do what you like to do even if its different. You may get questioned and others may not understand your vision but that’s okay being yourself is worth every second in life. Tudley was able to do many different things others turtles could not do and he was okay that he was different. I would recommend this book to children ages 4 and up.

[Breona Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book introduced children to new and exciting animals which I love! For example, the book mentions Likens which most children have never heard of; which cn be a great lesson to teach in science.

I love the silliness in the book- the turtle growing a tail and being able to jump- it is illy and funny and children will absolutely fall in love with Tudley!

Children will definitely enjoy this cute and adorable book!

[Shannon Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book to teach preschoolers about behaviors of different animals. The colors in this book stand out and fits each character. I love the fact that this book contains activities for the children to do. I think this book can also teach children bravery. Tudley, he was a turtle who tried to do what other animals did. Although he was different from other animals and could not do those things, he was brave enough to try.

[Brandielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute simple story about a frog that does extraordinary things because no one has told him he can't. Then at the back of the book is real info about all the creatures in the book and some fun but simple activities for kids. I read this book to my toddler then we made a hopping Tudley together. Wonderful preschool age activity.

[Tanisha James · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with exciting illustration and entertainingly ironic. "Tudley Didn't Know" can assist with building children curiosity about animals and their environment. While reading this book children can discovery science and problem-solving just to name a few developmental skills. There's also an informative website for teaching from this book.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book that is good for children around the age of five and under. This book is about the character, Tudley, who can flap his arms, hop, and sing. But there's one thing that Tudley can't do... Find out what it is by reading this book! This book includes brightly colored, eye-catching illustrations and a very upbeat storyline.

[Itzell Valtierra-auyoung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by John Himmelman, is a wonderful book for children 4-8 years old. With this book children will learn to look for what they are good for and no give up always try and find what is the best for them. Also children will learn to be good listeners. The book has great an colorful pictures and vivid illustrations

[Diana Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book showing children that if you not good with something you can be great in another thing. The illustrations were great it look vivid. Is a great book for early readers. I will definitely recommend this book. I am turtle fan that the minute I saw the cover it got my attention so I think that will happen will children.

[Chantana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contained good content. The turtle was a very humble turtle that was blessed with many talents. Children could learn a very good lesson on being a good listener because if the turtle had not listened to the other turtles then he would have been stuck on the rock.

[Michelle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and silly book, perfect for children ages 3-8. The confused little turtle will have the children and teachers smiling through out. Great book to get your children thinking and guessing what is going to happen next!

[Meghan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Tudley shows us that you can do anything you put your mind to. Children can get involved by you asking if a turtle can do this or that. The illustrations are awesome in this book. I will definitely read this book again.

[Maria E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for social-emotional develop for children. It has a variety of examples that this little turtle could do even if it didn't know that it could. This story can encourage children to try things and find out that they can do a lot of them.Ages 4-8 yrs.

[Gricel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that can be use for science and to teach perseverance. The illustrations are very attractive and real. The story is full of examples about what turtles do and how you can think another way to do things. Ages 5-7.

[The Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book epitomizes the old Chinese proverb: People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

I loved how the little turtle did all these non-turtle things because "he didn't know that!"

Beautiful drawings.