Tudley Didn't Know [Paperback]

John Himmelman (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

This whimsical story is about a pond-living turtle who adopts other animals behaviors simply because he doesn t know he can t! Tudley flies like a bird, sings like a katydid, hops like a frog, and glows like a firefly. He uses all his special behaviors to help other animals. Will Tudley's new friends help him when he needs help? The Creative Mind section has teaching trivia, crafts and games about the various animal adaptations.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3–A young painted turtle doesn't know much about what his species can and cannot do, so when a hummingbird accidentally drops her nest material into the water next to him, he flies up to return it. It turns out that he tries and succeeds at many things that were thought to be impossible for turtles, including flashing like a firefly and hopping like a frog. However, when he gets into trouble, it is the older turtles who can give him advice about how to rescue himself. By the end of the book, Tudley has taught them about trying new things, and they teach him some practical skills. The illustrations alternate between half- and full-page spreads that show the personalities of the pond's denizens. Tudley is full of exuberance and joy at helping his friends, and the look on the faces of the older turtles when he flies above them is priceless. The book also includes information about the animals mentioned and activities related to the story.–Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. When a hummingbird drops a bit of lichen into his pond, innocent young Tudley the turtle fishes it out and flies up to the bird's nest to return it. But the bird informs Tudley that "turtles can't fly." Soon Tudley is told that he can't do other things he has just done: light his tail like a firefly, hop like a frog, and sing like a katydid. When he finds himself stuck atop a pile of rocks, the other turtles explain what he can do. The final, wordless double-page spread shows that Tudley has also taught the other turtles a thing or two. An appended section provides information on each species that appears in the book, as well as several suggested activities. Although the story starts out like many "I'm glad to be what I am after all" picture books, the unflappable protagonist breaks away from the mold, and the story's unconventional ending is completely satisfying. The illustrations, apparently ink drawings with watercolor washes, suit the tale's mood and the hero's ingenuous spirit. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (March 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934359041
• ISBN-13: 978-1934359044
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Turtles

More About the Author

John Himmelman is the author and illustrator of more than sixty books for children, including "Chickens to the Rescue". He lives in Connecticut with his family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully-Illustrated Book Features a Talented, Unforgettable Turtle!, March 20, 2007

By 

Donny B. Seagraves "Donny Seagraves, Author" (WINTERVILLE, GA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tudley Didn't Know (Hardcover)

This beautifully-illustrated 870-word picture book features a young painted turtle called Tudley. Tudley surprises his fellow turtles by adopting the behaviors of other wildlife in the meadow and pond. While he is singing like the katydids, he loses his balance and falls from the tree. He lands upside down and can't turn over. His new friends try to help, but they finally have to go get other turtles to coach Tudley back to an upright position.

I liked all the opportunities for children to learn about the habits of turtle, hummingbird, katydid, tadpole, frog and firefly. The For Creative Minds pages include information about the various wildlife and gives related activities which will extend the learning for young readers.

I question the suspension of belief required for a child to believe a turtle could fly, etc. But the humor is wonderful and I think most children will go with it and be delighted.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tudley Scared?, February 6, 2007

By 

S. Richter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Tudley Didn't Know (Hardcover)

My son loved this book! All he would talk about at the dinner table was that Tudley was scared of being all by himself. Now that we have returned the book to the library where I work he still askes if Tudley is scared and if we can read the "turtle book." I think this is so awesome. You see, he is 2, and the mind of a 2 year old is fasinating!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A supplementary section of fun facts, October 7, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tudley Didn't Know (Hardcover)

Written and illustrated by John Himmelman, Tudley Didn't Know is a charming picturebook about a painted turtle who, in seeming defiance of the laws of physics, adopts the behaviors of other animals simply because he doesn't know that he can't. He hovers like a hummingbird and hops like a frog. But when he gets into trouble, trapped on his back atop a tall pile of rocks, only his special abilities as a turtle can help him - abilities that he doesn't know about either, until his new friends explain! A supplementary section of fun facts about the animals featured in Tudley Didn't Know and a simple craft project for creating a Tudley of one's own round out this happy-go-lucky story.