Industry Reviews of Charli's Turtle Triumph
"Burns’ breezy and delightful story introduces children to environmental responsibility while highlighting female empowerment."--Kirkus Reviews
"A trip to the local aquarium sparks a young girl’s dreams of becoming a conservationist in this inspiring tale from Burns (author of Zamboni’s Goal). When Charli’s school visits an aquarium, she, and her best friends, Emma and Molly, are eager to learn about—and potentially mee—new animals. Lucky for them, the center’s head marine biologist, Dr. Grace Jackson, is an expert on saltwater creatures, with a soft spot for those in danger of going extinct. When Charli and her crew meet Lenny, a Loggerhead turtle Dr. Grace rescued, Charli is entranced—and immediately daydreams about becoming a marine biologist herself, exploring Bristol Bay while saving animals with her own program: STAR, the Sea Turtle Animal Rescue group.
Readers will treasure this homage to our ocean’s wildlife, made more vibrant through Mel Schroeder’s cool-hued illustrations that burst with energy. Charli’s imagined beach adventures take place with her darling pup, Paris, who cheerfully drags her around the sand in search of an injured turtle—one whose sorrowful facial expression is heartbreaking. Thankfully, Charli springs into immediate action, assessing the extent of the turtle’s injuries and getting it back to STAR for treatment. She’s joined there by friend Emma, who promptly examines the newly-named Bristol and determines he swallowed a plastic bag. The girls save Bristol, of course, but the lesson they learn is powerful: “Ocean pollution has become a HUGE problem... [and] we can’t rescue ALL the sea turtles.”
Developing Charli’s story through her vivid imaginings is a clever tactic that will motivate younger readers to shoot for the stars themselves, and Burns offers them plenty of ideas on how they can help protect the ocean, from picking up trash to choosing glass over plastic. By the story’s end, Charli resolves to make a difference in the world around her, safely informing Dr. Grace that “anything is possible!”
Takeaway: Inspiring aquarium adventure that teaches ocean conservation.
Comparable Titles: Angela Dominguez’s Stella Díaz Never Gives Up, Jess French’s What a Waste.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A"
--BookLife Reviews
