We’re Stuck!

by Sue deGennaro

When Turtle races into the lift of Building 24, there is a nod and a blink and a step to the side. A grunt and a sigh and a lean to the right. But what happens when the lift stops moving?

Crocodile has a meeting to get to. And Giraffe has a doctors appointment. And Turtle really, really needs to get to the shop.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2019

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts on the title page and the one before it when we are introduced to a young turtle being passed a note by his mother and then we see him heading out. On turning to the next page the reader needs to turn the book to the left to get a perpendicular, cut-a-way view of an apartment building so that you are introduced to all the characters at once. Each lives alone except for the turtles on the top floor. The story unfolds and is completed in the lift as each different animal enters the lift until disaster happens.... You will have to read it find out just what that is and how it is resolved.

A great vehicle to show how a difficult circumstance can bring people together as these apartment dwellers enter the lift as strangers and leave as friends. Timely in a during and post COVID 19 world to discussion isolation and how to break down the barriers.

The quirky start is part of the charm of this book that is well designed, vibrant and busy with strong colours and great clues to identify the different professions of the animals. Sue deGennaro seems to prefer drawing animals than people, as this is similar to Missing Marvin, where the animal characters have human behaviours.
Shortlisted 2020 CBCA Book of the Year: Early Childhood

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the start of the book, turtle is handed a note by his mother and told it is important. Then he gets stuck in the elevator with other animals who complain, but they all come together and help each other. It's funny that the pelican doesn't complain - he appears to be an older fellow who already knows to let the minor inconveniences of life bump right under him.
We never find out what is on the note.

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book deals with the busyness of life, the lack of community and how sometimes when a little time is forced upon us, we can realise what is important and work together. I had to check whether this was published in 2020 (it was 2019), because it seems so appropriate for the current Covid climate!

[Cindy Liu · Rating 2 out of 5]

idk why i complain abt my homework my lang work is literally just reading picture books rn (this one was mid)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of showing how to make the best of a situation. Good skill in life, so happy to see a kids story about it.