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The Great Turtle Drive
Saddle up and join an entrepreneurial young cowboy and a million dollars' worth of turtles in a twisted tall tale set in the Wild West. Someone's got to supply the turtles to Frenchy's Gourmet Eating Establishment and Pizza Parlor, where the house specialty is--you guessed it--turtle soup, and our hero reckons it might as well be him. Soon he's roaming the wide frontier, lumbering turtles in tow. There's a fortune waiting for him at Frenchy's--if he ever gets there!
- GenresPicture Books
48 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 1996
6 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 3, 2022
This is one book that caught my attention due to the title of the book and also the fact that the illustrations looked quite familiar to other ones I have seen before. And what is even better is the fact that upon opening the book you see a sign leading to Kansas City, which was really never a cattletown but a stockyard.
The story is told from the protagonist in his older age who is remembering this particular episode in his life and is sharing it with the reader as if the reader is part of his grandchildren. It starts off when as a young cowpoke he rode into the town and upon treating himself found something really yummy but at a dismally steep price. And so he chose to not only fix the problem but get rich in trying while what follows is an unfactual fun romp in turtle rounding, turtle driving and all things on the go as our bold cowboy tries to make it back to KC for his money.
Although it isn't one of the best adventure books out there it will be a unique enough adventure that it may just make your list of bedtime stories.
And yes I did finally look into the illustrator and he is the same one for all my young spooky horror books -In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories and Bony-Legs. And so what a weird place for his illustrations to reappear to me....
The story is told from the protagonist in his older age who is remembering this particular episode in his life and is sharing it with the reader as if the reader is part of his grandchildren. It starts off when as a young cowpoke he rode into the town and upon treating himself found something really yummy but at a dismally steep price. And so he chose to not only fix the problem but get rich in trying while what follows is an unfactual fun romp in turtle rounding, turtle driving and all things on the go as our bold cowboy tries to make it back to KC for his money.
Although it isn't one of the best adventure books out there it will be a unique enough adventure that it may just make your list of bedtime stories.
And yes I did finally look into the illustrator and he is the same one for all my young spooky horror books -In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories and Bony-Legs. And so what a weird place for his illustrations to reappear to me....
May 17, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book despite my four star rating. On one hand, the writing and illustrations are excellent. Sanfield’s writing is really funny and can easily appeal to both children and adults. Zimmer’s illustrations are quirky, weird, and all out fantastic with its scrawly character design and detailed backgrounds. Children will enjoy taking in all the humorous details like facial expressions, hidden animals, and architecture. Even the wallpaper design is entertaining!
On the other hand, I find turtles being “turtle shoed,” buried, and forced to cross a river without knowing how to swim, all in the name of being led to their death (namely their turtle soup fate) a bit disturbing. Yes, the book has a happy ending in that the turtles are led back home and released, but children who are highly sensitive, as well as vegetarians and animal rights advocates, may balk altogether at this story.
On the other hand, I find turtles being “turtle shoed,” buried, and forced to cross a river without knowing how to swim, all in the name of being led to their death (namely their turtle soup fate) a bit disturbing. Yes, the book has a happy ending in that the turtles are led back home and released, but children who are highly sensitive, as well as vegetarians and animal rights advocates, may balk altogether at this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2013
That was silly. Plain ol' silly. But you know it got to my turtle-lovin' heart. Loved the illustrations--especially all those turtles! So cute. But won't work in my preschool storytime. For one, it's a bit long. Two, even if I laughed, the parents might not when we get to the "boy and girl" part. Uh...
January 31, 2016
Really creative story about a man trying to make his fortune driving turtles from Texas to California so his favorite restaurant can buy them to make turtle soup.
It's fun to see how the cowboy (turtleboy?) deals with all the problems presented by taking thousands of turtles cross country.
Very fun illustrations.
It's fun to see how the cowboy (turtleboy?) deals with all the problems presented by taking thousands of turtles cross country.
Very fun illustrations.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews