The Impatient Turtle

Janette Oke's Animal Friends #1

by Janette Oke, Nancy Munger (Illustrator)

Pogo hates being a turtle, with all the limitations involved, but eventually he comes to accept himself as he is.

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Childrens, Chapter Books, Animals

59 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1986

About the author

Janette Oke is a Canadian author known for her inspirational fiction, often set in a pioneer era and focused on female protagonists. Her debut novel, Love Comes Softly (1979), became the foundation for a successful series, followed by over 75 other novels. The first book in her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart (1983), inspired the popular television series of the same name.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.

Reviews

[Joe Krakovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about a turtle named Pogo and his friends who live by a swimming hole. They watch the boys having fun swinging on a rope and sliding down a slope and wish to do the same. But, alas, their shells and body form make this difficult. Pogo hates his shell but when a dog tries to get him he understands why he has it. It seems to have a useful purpose after all, so he thanks God for it.

The author is a Sunday school teacher and has written at least thirteen such cute little books. There are colorful illustrations throughout, though there are some blank pages in between. Overall, I think it is well done, though this is the first children's book I have read in a very long time.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by The Impatient Turtle by Janette Oke. I don't remember reading this one when I was younger. In this parable-of-sorts, readers meet an impatient turtle who struggles with contentment. He sees boys having so much fun at the pond: running, jumping, diving, swinging, sliding, playing, etc. But as a turtle, well, he's limited by his shell. He can't run. He can't jump. He can't slide. He wants to pack every single day with fun no matter if it's "safe" or not. (Like when he thinks it's GREAT fun to tease the men with fishing poles. It's great fun for him, not so much fun for his friend who got hooked). Friendship plays a big role in this one. I definitely enjoyed it, yes, it had a very strong, very obvious message, but I didn't seem to mind it this time.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one with my son. This is good for the 4-8 age range. A quick read with a good moral about learning to be happy with the way the Creator made you. We definitely plan to read more children's books by this author.

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute read aloud with my daughter. Taught some good lessons on being thankful for how God made us.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book Pogo the turtle learns that he is made exactly the way the Good Lord intended for him to be...shell and all. Mostly throughout the book he watches other animals and human boys at how much fun they have because they can run and play and he's slowed down with his shell. He tries everything to be like them and get hurt during those times. But when a dog picks him up and he realizes that had he not had his shell he wouldn't have survived he becomes thankful for his shell and the way that HE is made. My special needs teen age son, after I asked if he liked it said "Yes, like it better than the dog" Which meant although he enjoyed Spunky and the Prodical Cat both of which are his favorite animals he liked this one the best! So a great book!

[F · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Oke edition is age appropriate for the 6- to 10-year olds (as labeled on the back of the book). This was my second purchase of the Animal Friends series for my grandson, and his interest in the book's content does not seem to be at the same level as the first purchase (New Kid in Town). Pogo, the turtle, is not happy with his shell, and is envious of humans and other animals without shells. After his shell saves his life, Pogo decides he should be content with how God created him.

[Janetta Hayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janette Oke animal stories ... childhood fav!

[Myra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved these books as a teen and young adult until I read Mrs. Mike by Freemont. I realized this author merely copied another author's work as her own without giving them credit. Plagerism!!! It really made me take another look at this "Christian" author. It really tarnish my love for this author. As a future teacher, I loved this animal series but I could not purchase her books because that would be condoning her practice of stealing the work of others.

[Olivia Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sister and I used to listen to this audiobook when we were little, and we would laugh and laugh and LAUGH when the turtle ended up on his back. This was back when audiobooks were on cassette tapes, and it was my job to rewind the tape over and over so we could listen to that same part on repeat. It's been forever since I read or listened to this book, but I will never forget how hard we laughed. I need to get my hands on another non-cassette copy!

[Samantha Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story!

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent book with a good message. I just found it to be a little too slow and long to hold kids' attention (or mine) well.

[Sharon Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

B. fiction, children's fiction, grade 3, group of young turtles, borrowed from Celia

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learning to be glad you are what God made you.