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Old Turtle
All the creatures of the earth debate which qualities God possesses, but Old Turtle quiets them all when he says that God is all those things and more, in a deeply satisfying fable about ecology, peace, and the interconnectedness of all beings. Reprint.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 1991
About the author
Douglas Wood
94 books89 followersComposer, recording artist, wilderness guide, and self-taught naturalist-Douglas Wood is perhaps most widely known as the highly acclaimed author of OLD TURTLE, a 1993 ABBY Award winner and an International Reading Association Book of the Year. Author of several books for readers of all ages, Douglas says he is always seeking themes that are universally significant to both children and adults. His first book for Candlewick Press, GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH-winner of the Christopher Medal for "affirming the highest value of the human spirit"-quietly explores the theme of grief and healing while celebrating a human connection to the natural world and the enduring spirit of love. Douglas Wood kept in mind someone very special to his own life when writing GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH. "I feel I've been getting ready to write this book all my life, for it is about my wise and gentle hero, my Grandad. It's a prayer and a thank you, a walk in the woods, and a remembering smile; and it is for anyone who has ever had a woods to walk, a prayer to whisper, a hero to love."
Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.
Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
March 29, 2018
This is not a picture book for the very young, and, frankly, the "wise", vague exhortation to love those different from us--as we really are all one people--and listen to the messages from stones, plants, etc. is a bit precious, leaving me unmoved and unconvinced. While I don't quibble with the basic (unbroken) truth of the book that humanity is one, it would be refreshing to actually read a wise book that somehow communicated the extreme difficulty that sometimes (often?) exists when it comes to accepting and finding commonality with those whose ways are very different from ours! This is a "pretty" book--with flowery language and a sort of hushed and holy tone--that idealistic adults might like (it's much like Muth's The Three Questions, which I am also not a fan of) but I don't think it's a particularly great book for kids. If you prefer something a little more solid and truthful, and if you have problems with John Muth's other works, this story by Douglas Wood with illustrations by Muth won't be your cup of tea--as it wasn't mine.
(By the way, how did Old Turtle end up with the other half of the broken truth, anyway? The other half supposedly "blazed off through the night sky". Is Old Turtle a flying turtle? This is what I mean about preciousness. I like poetic books, but this book just seemed to be silliness masquerading as wisdom!)
(By the way, how did Old Turtle end up with the other half of the broken truth, anyway? The other half supposedly "blazed off through the night sky". Is Old Turtle a flying turtle? This is what I mean about preciousness. I like poetic books, but this book just seemed to be silliness masquerading as wisdom!)
February 2, 2010
Without fail, every single time I read, 'Old Turtle' I cry. Even after Old Turtle smiles, which, by the way, is my all time favorite illustration. I actually have a colored copy of it up in my room! Don't judge me..
January 2, 2008
Yes, it is a children's book. I guarantee you will love it, though!
May 1, 2019
One of the most beautiful and meaningful children's picture books of all time.
October 22, 2019
A simple book full of simple text with simple watercolours about a simple subject. Almost the perfect book for very little ones who want to see pictures while their parents read.
A very long time ago, all the animals of Earth understood one another. But new beings were being introduced. They would be called People.
And they hurt the earth.
Until finally even the forests
began to die...
Old Turtle is a prophet of sorts and he sees what People can do to make it all right. See? Very simple but very effective. As for me, I was enthralled by the artwork of Cheng-Khee Chee and his delightful Old Turtle.
Book Season = Autumn (dance among the rocks)
A very long time ago, all the animals of Earth understood one another. But new beings were being introduced. They would be called People.
And they hurt the earth.
Until finally even the forests
began to die...
Old Turtle is a prophet of sorts and he sees what People can do to make it all right. See? Very simple but very effective. As for me, I was enthralled by the artwork of Cheng-Khee Chee and his delightful Old Turtle.
Book Season = Autumn (dance among the rocks)
July 13, 2010
this was a nice book on diversity. i think one of the things people get the most worked up over is spirituality. it’s one of those things that can touch a person more deep than anything else, and everyone’s perspective will differ, even if only minutely. wars have been started over the issue, and all because we’re too pig headed and focused on our own validity. this book starts off with animals and rocks and trees each saying that what they think god is is indeed the true god, and that god seems to resemble the speaker. then the old turtle stops them and tell them of the coming of a new group, humans, and how they are supposed to be a message from god the the earth and a prayer from the earth to god. then people come and after while start to do not so nice things and nature says to stop. then the beings that said god was like themselves at the beginning of the book said they saw god in that which was opposite themselves. i guess the moral being have an open mind about that which is different from yourself, because it really isn’t so alien to what you believe.
October 10, 2015
This book just came to me in "Recommendations". I know this book, and it is a treasure to me in its physical form, and in the mood it evokes in my mind even now, years since I've read it.
The illustrations are watery and soft. The text moves slowly and peacefully. Today I need to find it on my shelf, and savor it again.
Read this for yourself, then read it to a child or two or even an entire classroom.
The illustrations are watery and soft. The text moves slowly and peacefully. Today I need to find it on my shelf, and savor it again.
Read this for yourself, then read it to a child or two or even an entire classroom.
April 2, 2013
One of my all time favorite Children's Picture Books. Do not discount this book as a child only book...it speaks volume to all who will listen...love, love, love this book!
February 18, 2023
Text-to-World Connection
This is a book that I found in my granddaughters' library at her house, given to her by her great-grandmother. This is a beautiful story of the beginning of time when God started making the world. It starts out with all the different parts of the Earth telling who God is according to each landform they are. Then the animals start to tell who God is to them, giving Him characteristics of themselves. Arguments arose as each idea became added to the list of opinions. Old Turtle spoke out and she spoke of what God is. Old Turtled agree with them all and told them that a new family of beings would come into the world, and they will remind us of who God is. She continued to tell the world that they will come in different colors, and shapes and all have different ways of speaking. She continues to tell about the powers and the love they will have for the Earth and each other. Old Turtle explains that they came to Earth and misused their powers and love and started hurting and killing each other. One day all the parts of the Earth started to die, because of the way the people acted. There was a voice and after a long time people started to listen and started to see God in themselves and one another, and the beauty on the Earth. The Old Turtle smiled and so did God. This story made me cry and want to share it with the world. What a beautiful story to share and remind the world to go back to love peace, and harmony. Remember that no matter what color or race, what language you speak, or what you like to do or not do, we are all wonderfully beautiful people from God. We need to choose that. This relates to the world to me and how joining together is what many of us want and strive for. Martin Luther King worked for these things and it touched my soul as he did too.
This is a book that I found in my granddaughters' library at her house, given to her by her great-grandmother. This is a beautiful story of the beginning of time when God started making the world. It starts out with all the different parts of the Earth telling who God is according to each landform they are. Then the animals start to tell who God is to them, giving Him characteristics of themselves. Arguments arose as each idea became added to the list of opinions. Old Turtle spoke out and she spoke of what God is. Old Turtled agree with them all and told them that a new family of beings would come into the world, and they will remind us of who God is. She continued to tell the world that they will come in different colors, and shapes and all have different ways of speaking. She continues to tell about the powers and the love they will have for the Earth and each other. Old Turtle explains that they came to Earth and misused their powers and love and started hurting and killing each other. One day all the parts of the Earth started to die, because of the way the people acted. There was a voice and after a long time people started to listen and started to see God in themselves and one another, and the beauty on the Earth. The Old Turtle smiled and so did God. This story made me cry and want to share it with the world. What a beautiful story to share and remind the world to go back to love peace, and harmony. Remember that no matter what color or race, what language you speak, or what you like to do or not do, we are all wonderfully beautiful people from God. We need to choose that. This relates to the world to me and how joining together is what many of us want and strive for. Martin Luther King worked for these things and it touched my soul as he did too.
April 12, 2025
After hearing of Mr. Chee’s death on 6 April 2025, I dug out my copy of “Old Turtle” (autographed by Mr. Chee). I remember him mostly as a quiet, gentle, and kind presence - often accompanied by a humorous twinkle in his eye - in the UMD Library where he was head librarian and I a student worker. Like Old Turtle, he never said much but we all respected him greatly and enjoyed his watercolor paintings, particularly his trademark pools of swirling koi fish. He often quoted Mother Theresa: “We do no great things, only small things with love.”
April 19, 2018
Huh. A children's book?
June 16, 2020
A 1993 American Booksellers Association Book of the Year and wonderful book for both children and adults. Through the text, words of the Old Turtle and other animals, and of images comes the story of meaning and of God. This book has been on my shelves for many years and I am very pleased to have now read it. It brought me peace and will be read again.
March 28, 2022
Every time I re-read this, I find something new to think about.
January 10, 2015
Exaltare pseudo-mitologico-ecologico-panteisto-religioasă foarte confuză şi stupidă. Ilustrată destul de drăguţ, dealtfel.
Despre animale vorbitoare (şi nu doar animale ci şi apă, pietre, copaci etc.) care îl caută pe dumnezeu bla-bla-bla, despre oameni, mesagerii dragostei lui dumnezeu, care şi-au uitat originea şi predestinarea bla-bla-bla, provocând astfel o catastrofă ecologică bla-bla-bla, despre o bătrână ţestoasă care i-a oprit pe oameni şi care i-a făcut pe aceştia să asculte şi să audă, şi să vadă pe dumnezeu în fiecare din ei, în frumuseţea Pământului bla-bla. Şi bătrâna ţesotasă ZÂMBEŞTE şi parcă se face aluzie că ţestoasa este dumnezeu, ori că duhul sfânt a intrat în broască şi a făcut-o să vorbească. Iar pe ultimele pagini, ca şi pe primele, imagini care ar fi trebuit să ne sugereze frumuseţea naturii, cu multe pete de culoare, desenate parcă sub influenţa drogurilor. And so did God. Amin.
Despre animale vorbitoare (şi nu doar animale ci şi apă, pietre, copaci etc.) care îl caută pe dumnezeu bla-bla-bla, despre oameni, mesagerii dragostei lui dumnezeu, care şi-au uitat originea şi predestinarea bla-bla-bla, provocând astfel o catastrofă ecologică bla-bla-bla, despre o bătrână ţestoasă care i-a oprit pe oameni şi care i-a făcut pe aceştia să asculte şi să audă, şi să vadă pe dumnezeu în fiecare din ei, în frumuseţea Pământului bla-bla. Şi bătrâna ţesotasă ZÂMBEŞTE şi parcă se face aluzie că ţestoasa este dumnezeu, ori că duhul sfânt a intrat în broască şi a făcut-o să vorbească. Iar pe ultimele pagini, ca şi pe primele, imagini care ar fi trebuit să ne sugereze frumuseţea naturii, cu multe pete de culoare, desenate parcă sub influenţa drogurilor. And so did God. Amin.
August 30, 2017
A young man asked Old Turtle, What is our purpose in life?
A woman asked Old Turtle, “How do we find happiness?”
A young girl wants to know all about family.
A little boy wants to know about play.
An old man asked about evil.
An old woman asked about death.
Old Turtle is a book you want to read because the answers are brilliant! Greg Ruth’s illustrations were good.
A woman asked Old Turtle, “How do we find happiness?”
A young girl wants to know all about family.
A little boy wants to know about play.
An old man asked about evil.
An old woman asked about death.
Old Turtle is a book you want to read because the answers are brilliant! Greg Ruth’s illustrations were good.
March 7, 2020
Lovely
Beautiful in so many ways. Language, illustration, a heart full lesson.
I will be sharing this with my grand children!
Beautiful in so many ways. Language, illustration, a heart full lesson.
I will be sharing this with my grand children!
January 28, 2017
How we forgot to see God in every person and in the beauty of the earth, and then remembered. (And perhaps have forgotten again...)
May 30, 2017
A book about God and what God is like.
July 19, 2017
+1 for illustrations.
December 28, 2017
Beautifully illustrated picture book with a timeless story -- appropriate for all ages.
March 21, 2018
Love this one! "God is very close; His love touches everything."
October 22, 2018
Very funny to me!
February 25, 2019
Read many times previously. I will keep rereading. Beautiful Childrens book but great lessons for all of us, young and old.
May 13, 2019
4.5 stars! Wonderful read; beautiful illustrations.
October 31, 2019
God IS.
And people are
A message of love from God to the earth.
And a prayer from the earth back to God.
As long as they remember who and what they are.
And people are
A message of love from God to the earth.
And a prayer from the earth back to God.
As long as they remember who and what they are.
December 17, 2019
To me this is a most beautiful book with a most beautiful message!
February 9, 2020
I like the diversity and that God isn’t defined. But I didn’t expect the religious part and I’m not sure why there’s a turtle but it’s beautifully illustrated.
November 20, 2021
Old Turtle begins with a spiritual reflection in which the creatures of the earth and the elements of creation argue over the nature of God with each casting Him/Her in a manner most favorable from their perspective or perhaps a bit in their own likeness. When each has taken its turn describing God in such ways, Old Turtle speaks up to say that each juxta positioned perspective is correct when looking at the wholeness of God. Were this all that there is to this book it would be a wonderful spiritual insight. Douglas Wood however, continues as Old Turtle proclaims to the creatures of God’s creation that there is one more to come. Referring to man Old Turtle says:
“They will possess many powers. They will be strong, yet tender, a message of love from God to the earth, and a prayer from the earth back to God.”
Here the spiritual reflection becomes prophetic stating:
“But the people forgot. They forgot that they were a message of love… And they began to argue… about who knew God, and who did not; and where God was, and was not… and … the people misuse their powers, and hurt one another… And they hurt the earth.”
The reflection then turns inspirational as the denizens of creation speak to the people from the lesson of Old Turtle reminding them of the presence of God. The people listened and we can assume restored a proper relationship with creation.
The copyright on my copy is 1992. As we approach the 30 years anniversary of this text it saddens me that man is ever farther from being “a message of love from God to the earth.” Or at least so it seems for the ones who yet “misuse their powers to hurt one another and hurt the earth.” But too, there are a great many who are uniting to exercise their collective political power on behalf of the earth. That surely would make Old Turtle smile.
“They will possess many powers. They will be strong, yet tender, a message of love from God to the earth, and a prayer from the earth back to God.”
Here the spiritual reflection becomes prophetic stating:
“But the people forgot. They forgot that they were a message of love… And they began to argue… about who knew God, and who did not; and where God was, and was not… and … the people misuse their powers, and hurt one another… And they hurt the earth.”
The reflection then turns inspirational as the denizens of creation speak to the people from the lesson of Old Turtle reminding them of the presence of God. The people listened and we can assume restored a proper relationship with creation.
The copyright on my copy is 1992. As we approach the 30 years anniversary of this text it saddens me that man is ever farther from being “a message of love from God to the earth.” Or at least so it seems for the ones who yet “misuse their powers to hurt one another and hurt the earth.” But too, there are a great many who are uniting to exercise their collective political power on behalf of the earth. That surely would make Old Turtle smile.
February 7, 2017
Old Turtle written by Douglas Wood, is about a wildlife ecosystem that argues about who God is. They each have their own personal version of what they believe but Old Turtle's position is that God is in everything. When humans inherit the earth they fight and kill over their own beliefs in God and the Old Turtle helps them find peace and see God in beauty.
I give this story a three star rating. I feel like it is sentimental and beautiful but not altogether inclusive because no matter what, God exists in this universe which demotes atheism. I know atheism is less common and the meaning of this book is larger than religion but it can also be viewed as too preachy and exclusive.
"And often the people misused their powers, and hurt one another, or killed one another. And they hurt the earth. Until finally even the forests began to die..."(n.p.) this is some serious darkness entering the world which can either be because of arguments about God or because the people become godless. Either way, the message is clearly faith and hope are the strongest forces for positive impact.
This story makes me feel like there is more of an open door for young people to choose spirituality over a specific belief system. Back when I was in school you were usually committed to whatever religion your parents worshipped, and it is somewhat the same these days, but this story reveals that there is more of a understanding that as long as there is a belief in something larger than oneself (not atheism) then you have faith and the ability to find hope throughout life.
The classroom connection for this book could be the understanding that even when arguments arise and people see situations with very different perspectives they can find common ground with a positive platform.
I give this story a three star rating. I feel like it is sentimental and beautiful but not altogether inclusive because no matter what, God exists in this universe which demotes atheism. I know atheism is less common and the meaning of this book is larger than religion but it can also be viewed as too preachy and exclusive.
"And often the people misused their powers, and hurt one another, or killed one another. And they hurt the earth. Until finally even the forests began to die..."(n.p.) this is some serious darkness entering the world which can either be because of arguments about God or because the people become godless. Either way, the message is clearly faith and hope are the strongest forces for positive impact.
This story makes me feel like there is more of an open door for young people to choose spirituality over a specific belief system. Back when I was in school you were usually committed to whatever religion your parents worshipped, and it is somewhat the same these days, but this story reveals that there is more of a understanding that as long as there is a belief in something larger than oneself (not atheism) then you have faith and the ability to find hope throughout life.
The classroom connection for this book could be the understanding that even when arguments arise and people see situations with very different perspectives they can find common ground with a positive platform.
April 24, 2020
This is a beautiful book that words cannot begin to describe. I bought it a long time ago. A young man, an environmentalist recommended it. It is a wonderful book for children and for everyone. The artwork is beautiful and colorful. Old Turtle is so old, so intelligent, so knowing. This book won the Abby Book of the Year, 1993 Awards, Children's Book Awards, International Reading Association, American Booksellers Association. The book is short, not overly wordy, but tells so much.
Before mankind came upon the earth, all spoke and understood one another. Then arguments began. Everything, fish stars wind, trees all said the God was with them only. Loud arguments. Then spoke Old Turtle, who rarely ever spoke. She said "God Is."
There will be new families upon the earth, all different. Humans came and before long began arguing about God. People, who came from God forgot and began fighting, starting trouble, wars, ruining the earth God had given them. Came a voice. "Please Stop."
And them remembered.
And Old Turtle smiled.
Excellent and beautiful book, to be read and remembered.
Before mankind came upon the earth, all spoke and understood one another. Then arguments began. Everything, fish stars wind, trees all said the God was with them only. Loud arguments. Then spoke Old Turtle, who rarely ever spoke. She said "God Is."
There will be new families upon the earth, all different. Humans came and before long began arguing about God. People, who came from God forgot and began fighting, starting trouble, wars, ruining the earth God had given them. Came a voice. "Please Stop."
And them remembered.
And Old Turtle smiled.
Excellent and beautiful book, to be read and remembered.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews