October 14, 2019
Born without a shell, Terrance the box turtle happily makes due with a cardboard box that kept him “dry on the soggiest days,/ safe from the snoopiest strangers.” When a group of bullies call the carapace “weird,” Terrance promptly abandons it, venturing out in search of “something better.” Working digitally and in colored pencil and paint, Roeder (Lucy and the String) sweetly depicts the little green cherub as he peers from atop a slide and peeks inside a doghouse. He tries wearing a mailbox, but to his chagrin “it showed too much cheek.” A jack-in-the-box proves deeply alarming, and a cat box just “stunk.” When Terrance despairs, the little hermit crab who has quietly been at his side throughout magnanimously offers up its own small shell, prompting Terrance to realize that just as the crab is “more than just a shell,” so too is he. Lesson learned, Terrance labors with new friends to spruce up the old box to his liking, whatever the bullies might say. In Roeder’s skillful hands, the little box turtle offers an inarguable message about the power of friendship and the importance of working with what one has. Ages 3–5.
December 1, 2019
A young turtle's experiences with bullying and friendship lead him on a journey of self-acceptance. When a pair of box-turtle parents discovers that their baby is born without a shell, they don't miss a beat. The loving parents "[give] him a name and a shell, both of which fit just right": Terrance, in a playful nod to his species, wears a cardboard box. Terrance is perfectly happy until a trio of bullies shame him for his unusual shell. Mortified, Terrance leaves the box behind to look for something beyond reproach. Hijinks ensue during Terrance's search for a new shell, which features the disrobed reptile and his anthropomorphic buttocks on full display. At every step of the determined turtle's quest, Terrance's unnamed hermit crab friend is there, supporting Terrance as he tries on box after box. After a roster of options (including a mailbox, a boombox, and a jack-in-the-box) are rejected for their slapstick effects, Terrance is downcast--until the hermit crab offers up their own tiny shell. This generous act of friendship inspires Terrance to return to his beloved cardboard box after all. Among a range of titles featuring a be-true-to-yourself message, this effort doesn't quite stack up. Aside from its overworked story, the idea that Terrance "[is] so much more than just his shell" implies that he does have an unfortunate attribute. Such a concept does little to challenge the biases of Terrance's bullies or the false notion that Terrance's shell is "definitely weird." Sadly, there's not much to unpack in this box. (Picture book. 5-9)
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March 1, 2020
PreS-Gr 2-With the crack of his egg on the title page, Terrance the turtle hatches, but a turn of the page verifies that he's missing something important-a shell. His parents assure him he is "so much more than just a shell," and give him a substitute; Terrance is a now indeed a true "box" turtle. However, as Terrance grows, other box turtles pronounce his new box shell "weird," and now Terrance can only see it as "boring" or "bizarre," so the search begins for a better shell. Full-page art with the cartoon faces of Terrance and his faithful hermit crab pal highlight the affection between friends, while text separated by boxed illustrations indicates the search from one choice to the next. "Shell" discards are found-a mailbox, a hatbox, a Jack-in-the-box, a boom box, a lunch box, and even a kitty's litter box-but none match the little turtle's expectations. While time passes and the background light darkens with dawn silhouettes and rainy days, Terrance finds true friendship as he follows a path through the town to a shell just right for him. VERDICT This suggested general purchase supports social-emotional learning with confidence building through awareness of the character's uniqueness and ability to think "out of the box."-Mary Elam, Learning Media Services, Plano ISD, TX
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
December 1, 2019
Preschool-G After Terrance, a turtle, is born without a shell, his parents solve the problem with a cardboard box substitute. Terrance loves his box?it fulfills its purpose and helps him make friends?but when other young turtles make fun of his unusual topping, the shame drives him to seek out a more impressive option. Roeder renders an adorable, rosy-cheeked (all four cheeks, when he's going about shell-free) Terrance in colorful pencil and acrylics, bringing the cute along with plenty of laughs as he works his way through a number of absurd shell replacements, including a boom box; a box of kitty litter, complete with kitty; and a treasure chest, pursued by vengeful pirates. Pages alternate between full-bleed and spot illustrations, often utilizing simple, comics-style panels to guide the story through various little moments. A sweet, affirming message brings things together in the end as Terrance realizes, thanks to his friends, that he was happiest with his original box. Pair with Jean Reidy's Truman (2019) for a sweet, turtle-themed story time.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)