One Summer Night

PreS-Gr 1—Baby turtle hatchlings make their way to the ocean. It's a summer evening on a beach, and the moon hides behind clouds, giving the babies a chance to make it to the sea before the seagulls get them. The night is full of lightning and thunder. The hatchlings try to huddle safely, but they are lost, until a small girl with a flashlight guides them and other humans create a safe path to the ocean. With brown skin, a bright yellow slicker, and red spectacles, the girl is there when the turtles send their "heartfelt thanks" back to the humans. Despite back matter about many kinds of turtles, this is a capricious look at the hatching process, and will lead some children into more serious explorations of the topic. VERDICT Delightful in the telling, with friendly, smiling turtles welcoming children into its pages, this is soft on biology but wonderfully accessible.—Annmarie Braithwaite, New York P.L.,