What Newt Could Do for Turtle Book

When Newt is stuck in the mud, Turtle pulls him out. When a snake is about to gobble Newt, Turtle warns him. When an alligator approaches Newt, mouth open wide, Turtle causes a distraction. Turtle doesn't mind helping his red-spotted friend out of jams, he's just happy to have a companion in the swamp. But Newt is plagued by the question, "What can I do for Turtle?" He desperately wants to return the many favors his friend does for him, yet no matter how long he perches cross-legged on his thinking rock, he can't come up with the perfect reciprocal gesture. Finally, Newt's day arrives. When Turtle is flipped onto his back by a curious bobcat, Newt comes to the rescue with a lever system of his own amphibian design. Turtle is eternally grateful, and Newt is ecstatic with the joy of having helped a friend. Jonathan London tells this simple story with a cadence and pace that will please readers and listeners, and with a voice that neither insists nor implies that repayment of friendly gestures is mandatory. Louise Voce's bright, bold drawings of swamp life will have children devouring the oversized pages, seeking out the rich variety of animal life contained therein. And, because Newt rates fairly high on the scale of all-time cutest picture book creatures, kids will want to return again and again to this gentle story of the natural give and take of friendship. (Ages 3 to 7) Read More