Rachel and Obadiah [Paperback]

Brinton Turkle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

In the days when Nantucket whaling ships could be away at sea for years at a time, a vessel's safe return was celebrated by all the inhabitants of the island. Runners would carry the joyous news as soon as the vessel was sighted from the island's highest point. When Obadiah is hired for this important task, his little sister Rachel is certain that she can be trusted with such a mission as well. Their childlike competition plays out in a delightful story of determination and sportsmanship. Illustrated with Turkle's whimsical watercolor illustrations throughout. 30 pg

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Authentic old Nantucket is the backdrop for this story of a little sister, who proves that she's big enough to win a race. Ages 5-8.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Brinton Turkle was born on August 15, in Alliance, Ohio. He drew constantly in school. "Unfortunately, none of my school teachers appreciated it. If only one elementary school teacher had egged me on, I think I would have acquired art skills much earlier than I did." Turkle had an immense interest in the theatre, but the uncertainty of that life wasn't appealing. After a job in advertising in Chicago, he married and moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was able to indulge his theatrical interests. He had an ambition to write and illustrate three children's books so he could dedicate them to each of his three children. He was awarded a Caldecott Honor in 1970 for Thy Friend, Obadiah.

Product Details

• Paperback: 30 pages
• Publisher: Beautiful Feet Books (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893103188
• ISBN-13: 978-1893103184
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #835,599 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A determined little girl wins the race., October 5, 2001

By 

slomamma (San Luis Obispo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rachel and Obadiah (Hardcover)

Rachel and Obadiah is one of the best of Brinton TurkleÕs Obadiah Starbuck stories (the others in the series are Thy Friend Obadiah, The Adventures of Obadiah and Obadiah the Bold), all of which deal with a little Quaker boy in colonial-era Nantucket. The plot of Rachel and Obadiah is basically a variation on the story of the tortoise and the hare. Little Rachel canÕt run as fast as her big brother Obadiah, so when they race to see who will get to bring to town the news of a ship returning to the harbor, her chances of winning do not look good. But Obadiah gets distracted by some blackberry bushes (and the belief that he is so fast that he can always catch up later) and so, by sheer determination, by never giving up for a second, Rachel wins.

I have a six-year-old daughter who has an older brother, so you probably wonÕt be surprised to learn that she thinks this is the very best of the Obadiah books.

Besides being a wonderful story, the book also has superb illustrations. The clothing, the clapboard houses with their widowsÕ walks, the windmills, and the old sailing ships coming into port are all great introductory history lessons for young children. But even better is the variety and expressiveness of all the charactersÕ faces. The joy and expectation on the faces of the crowd waiting for the ship to come in. The pride on RachelÕs tiny face when she wins the race. Especially good is the final picture of Obadiah slumping home while Rachel looks at him with a mixture of new-found pride in herself and compassion for her brother. Brinton Turkle is a master at capturing the complexity of human emotions, and this book is one of the best examples of his work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun historical book for kids, March 26, 2000

By 

Samantha Gizerian Ervin (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rachel and Obadiah (Hardcover)

All of Turkle's Obadiah books are great for 6-10 year olds. Rachel and Obadiah, in particular is entertaining because it draws the reader into a historical time and place which might otherwise be boring to kids of that age. The story of the competition between Rachel and Obadiah to bring the news of the approaching ships is a theme that kids and adults alike will understand and enjoy. Turkle's Obadiah books bring life and fun to the streets of colonial Nantucket and to its seafaring and Puritan cultures. I loved it as a child and I still do.

5.0 out of 5 stars Rachel and Obediah, September 5, 2011

By 

Laura K. Deblank (Phoenix, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rachel and Obadiah (Paperback)

The story and illustrations are wonderful. It is a family favorite! Obediah is a very human boy who makes his share of mistakes, making this book great fun to read to children.