Turtle Summer: A Journal for my Daughter [Paperback]

Mary Alice Monroe (Author), Barbara J. Bergwerf (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 7, 2007 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

This is a companion book to Mary Alice Monroe s novel, Swimming Lessons, the sequel to The Beach House. In the novel, the readers witness a young mother, Toy, writing a journal for her daughter, Little Lovie. This is the journal Toy is writing. Using original photographs, this scrapbook journal explains the nesting cycle of sea turtles and the natural life along the southeastern coast, including local shore birds, shells, and the sea turtle hospital. Adults and children will enjoy the images, information and the journal with or without the novel.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 2–3—This introduction to the hatching of sea turtles is organized as a kind of scrapbook for the author's young daughter, seen in occasional photographs as she walks on the beach with her mother or watches for the hatching. "You are my helper on the Island Turtle Team. You are eager to learn about the sea turtles, the flowers, the shells, the birds, and all things great and small." The album layout, with several small photographs sprinkled with labeled pictures of plants and shells, is potentially attractive and informative, but views of the featured animals are tiny and indistinct. Monroe explains how the mother turtles come ashore, lay eggs, and leave; how the Turtle Team moves eggs in danger of washing away; and how the hatchlings immediately head for the sea. She urges readers to look for evidence of sea turtles on the beach and to be prudent about this environment. Little is said about the life cycle and travels of the adult species, and readers aren't told the likely location of beaches where sea turtles might nest. Closing pages include a review of sea turtle facts, short activities, and suggestions for constructing one's own nature scrapbook. Since sea turtles are described in numerous attractive and informative books, this one will probably work best as an introduction for young readers who actually live near nesting beaches.—Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

The story's presentation (with the interaction between a mother and daughter as they share the turtle encounter) will draw readers into the experience, encourage turtle habitat preservation, and increase awareness of the plight of the sea turtle. --NSTA Recommends

Snapshots, calendars, seashells, flowers, and illustrations frame the poignant text in this telling of the tale of the loggerhead sea turtle. The author weaves text as though wielding a paint brush to canvas. This book has an endearing quality that will make it a favorite with children and adults. --Children's Literature Comprehensive Database

This is a splendid mixture of photos, drawing, and text. Children, ages 4 to 9 will relate to this book and its activities, hopefully clamoring to create a similar journal with their siblings and parents. --Midwest Book Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (April 7, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0977742377
• ISBN-13: 978-0977742370
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #503,989 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #36 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Turtles

More About the Author

Mary Alice Monroe is known for her intimate portrayals of women's lives and for drawing parallels with nature and human nature. An active environmentalist, she draws on her own experiences to bring to life the seductive southern coastline and her home--the sea, marshes, and maritime forests of the South Carolina low country.

Mary Alice wrote non-fiction and was teaching English when she was sent to bed for months during a pregnancy. Recognizing it was a gift of time, she wrote and wrote. "I gave birth to a baby and a book." She is currently writing her thirteenth novel.

Mary Alice has served on the faculty of numerous writer's conferences and retreats and is a frequent speaker. Her books have achieved several best seller lists, including SIBA, USA Today, and the NY Times. Her first children's book received several awards, including the ASPCA Henry Bergh award. In 2008 Monroe was awarded the SC Center for the Book Award for Fiction.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful idea - scrapbooking at the seashore!, May 23, 2007

By 

J. Nasse "book lover/educator" (New Mexico, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turtle Summer: A Journal for my Daughter (Paperback)

Turtle Summer, a Journal for my Daughter

This book presents a charming idea for a parent and child: to keep a nature scrapbook. Mary Alice Monroe has written and illustrated this enchanting journal of a mother and daughter's summer surveillance for loggerhead sea turtles on their beach. While watching the turtle nests, they observe and sketch nature's other offerings at the seashore. Like a family photo album, it is an intimate book.

Photographer Barbara J. Bergwerf teamed with Mary Alice Monroe to add exceptional and informative photos, including one of Carolina from the previous Sylvan Dell book, Carolina's Story: Sea Turtle's Get Sick Too! This is a splendid mixture of photos, drawing, and text. Children, ages 4 - 9 will relate to this book and its activities, hopefully clamoring to create a similar journal with their siblings and parents.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a delight!, March 30, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Turtle Summer: A Journal for My Daughter (Hardcover)

(If possible, read Swimming Lessons first)

Turtle Summer is based on the journal that Toy was writing for Lovie in Swimming Lessons. This children's book shows how Toy and Lovie spent the summer taking care of loggerhead sea turtles.

From May to August, Lovie and her mom are part of the Island Turtle Team. They wait for loggerhead sea turtles to return to lay their eggs. They mark the nests with orange signs so that the public will be careful not to disturb the nest. When the eggs hatch, they make sure that the hatchlings head back to the ocean.

This book has a mix of color photographs and drawings. It's a celebration both the mother-daughter relationship and the nesting and hatchling phase of sea turtles. I couldn't help oohing and ahhing when I saw the pictures of the hatchlings--they are too cute!

Turtle Summer will be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It's a great way to teach children about conservation and endangered species. A section at the end of the back has activities that readers can do in the classroom or at home.

Mary Alice Monroe is a New York Times Bestselling author of ten novels. This is her first children's book. Barbara J. Bergwerf is a nature photographer whose photographs perfectly capture the beach environment. While the sea turtles are the stars of this book, readers will also enjoy the vivid photos of the birds and seashells.

Turtle Summer is a delightful book. The text and photos really capture the reader's interest. I think this book will easily become a family favorite.

Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A spectacular book for outdoor education!, June 5, 2007

By 

Susan Frankenberg "Read Aloud Coach" (Signal Mountain, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Turtle Summer: A Journal for my Daughter (Paperback)

The perfect "nature awareness" book! The format of appearing like a scrapbook is captivating. I used this in my 4th grade classroom... much to my students' delight. They loved it! If you plan on going to the beach this summer, especially in the southeast, it is a must!

Ms. Monroe also has some adult novels that are terrific! The Beach House