10/15/07

Turtles In My Sandbox


Author/Illustrator: Jennifer Keats Curtis / Emanuel Schongut
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing
Publication Date: 2006
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Audience: Gr. Pre-K+

Overview: This is a story of a diamondback terrapin mama that swims to shore along the Chesapeake Bay to lay her eggs. A young girl finds these eggs in her sandbox and decides to help make sure that the eggs survive. Maggie and her mom did some research to make sure that they did everything that they could to help the eggs. This book gives professional advice and detailed explanation about many features of the diamondback terrapin turtle. This author travels around to different elementary schools, reading to the student’s and/or doing writing workshops.

Activity: Before reading: A power point presentation is a great way to introduce some vocabulary concepts and background knowledge on the diamondback terrapin to the students.
After reading: The students can write a follow-up letter to the author having them comment on interesting facts they learned or turtles.

Reviewer’s Name: Kimberly Freeman