Where's My Turtle?

by Barbara Bottner, Brooke Boynton Hughes (Illustrations)

Help Archer find his missing turtle hiding in the pages of this picture book!

How Many Times Have I Told You to Pick Up This Room?
Archer's pet turtle is missing! Mom is sure he's somewhere in Archer's messy bedroom...or the back yard... or somewhere in the house. Archer looks everywhere inside and out but can't find his turtle until he learns to think like one! However, sharp-eyed young readers will easily find the missing pet hiding thoughout the messy pages of this book.
Here is an imaginative and interactive story with the added bonus of showing why it's a good idea to pick up your toys.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Humor

40 pages, Library Binding

Published April 28, 2020

About the author

Barbara Bottner, New York Times best-selling author, is a screenwriter, TV writer, and writing coach, who began her multi-hyphenate career as an artist and actor. Designing off-Broadway sets in the ’60s led her to performance and following her career in theatre, she began writing and illustrating books for children. In total, she has written over 40 books in all areas of children’s literature including Young Adult, Middle Grade, chapter, and "I Can Reads". Several of her award-winning picture books have been animated and translated into multiple languages.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like so many of us, Archer has not kept his room neat and tidy, resulting in quite a mess. He doesn't listen to his mother when she suggests that he clean it up, but once he is unable to find his pet turtle, Kevin, he decides that he needs to listen to her. Still, it takes quite a while for him to sort things out since he keeps getting distracted. With everything picked up and still no Kevin in sight, Archer decides that he must think like a turtle in order to locate Kevin. Young readers will be able to relate to his worries about his friend and especially enjoy spotting Kevin in the illustrations in various hiding places that Archer overlooks. Although the story line is simple, it contains some good lessons for young pet owners as Archer sets out food and fresh water for his friend as well as making sure his tank is clean. I also liked how Archer has to practice patience and wait for his turtle to join him. He didn't pitch a fit or carry on, just lay quietly on the floor, waiting for Kevin to choose the right time to emerge.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute book about a boy looking for his turtle, but his room is very messy and he can't find anything, not even his turtle. He looks everywhere and still can't find it. His mom suggests cleaning and I liked his mom's saying, "A place for everything and everything in its place". Great story and adorable ending! The illustrations are very cute and I love the details in them. I felt like I was in the boy's room!

SPOILERS AHEAD:

While looking for the turtle he gets distracted by the other things he finds that he was looking for earlier. He ends up putting everything away and all is clean, but still no turtle. He cleans the turtle's tank, gives the turtle fresh water, and fresh food, but still no turtle. So he waits and waits until the turtle comes out of his hiding spot.

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Archer cannot find his turtle. He really wants to be sure Kevin is fed and safe. Granted, wherever he looks in his spacious house, there is lots of mess from his sports equipment, art supplies, and toys. When Archer finally cleans up the clutter, and waits a long time (for a kid), Kevin slowly returns. Perceptive readers will enjoy the search to find Kevin where he is hiding somewhere in each page opening. Gentle, repetitive text and soft colors make this a lovely read aloud for pet loving youngsters.

[Lydia McGregor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great way to explain the importance of keeping your space neat & tidy. In this story, the main character has lost his pet turtle & attempts different methods of luring his pet until he ultimately deep-cleans his room, which leads to finding him. The story is enjoyable with easy-on-the-eyes illustrations. I love how it ends with a “callback” & it’s understandable message. My toddlers loved spotting the hiding turtle on every page. I would check this book out again!

[A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very cute mechanism for getting your kid to clean their room! Kevin the turtle is missing, and Archer can't find him ANYWHERE. Archer retraces some steps, thinking like a turtle and tidying up messes he'd made along the way. Fear not (spoiler!), Archer and Kevin are reunited. Kids will enjoy spotting Kevin on each spread.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archer can't find his best friend, Kevin, who is a turtle. His mother suggests maybe he put some of his belongings away to see if he can find his friend when he cleans up his room.

Eventually the room gets picked up and the turtle is found. Darling story. Children will love spotting Kevin in each picture.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Archer looks everywhere for his turtle, Kevin. While doing this, he finds all sorts of "lost" items. Mom suggests he clean up everything which he finally does. Then he starts putting out items Kevin likes. Of course, the turtle comes out of hiding and returns home. Readers will have fun looking for him on the pages. Cute story with an obvious message.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little boy has lost his turtle and all the steps he takes to try and find him. This book also has the turtle hidden on each set of pages so it makes a good lapsit search and find book. I see this as more of a lapsit then a storytime book.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story to help persuade kids to keep their toys picked up and their rooms neat. Archer can’t find his pet turtle, and needs to clean up and begin to think like a turtle to find him. Readers can have fun finding the hidden turtle on every page spread.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In order to find his missing pet turtle, a little boy learns to think like a turtle.

[Jae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute enough entry in the look and find genre. Also functional clean your room propaganda.

[ErinTheLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a seek and find picturebook with a gentle message:" A place of everything and everything in its place" (don't be messy!). Boy is white or very light brown skin with brown hair.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Archer can't find his pet turtle Kevin until he cleans his room and puts food out for him.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok so I couldn't find the durn turtle until I read through the book twice. It's a bit hard to spot but I kinda' like that the kids (a me) have to do a little eyeballing to find it.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about a boy, his messy room, and his missing turtle. It was fun to try to spot the turtle on every page.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and cute, and very relatable. Also Kevin! What a cute little guy! Adorable illustrations.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Nicole Stanton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little read! Can you find the turtle on the page?

[Cyril · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute - our 4-year-old loved finding the turtle hiding on every page.

[skcocnaH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book 5 stars, but they should seriously not give Kevin free reign of the house. Hasn’t anyone heard that turtles have salmonella on their shells?!? It’s dangerous!

[Mrs Heet -Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for preschool and lower elementary aged kids.