The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle

Author: Sy Montgomery / Illustrator: Matt Patterson / Publisher: Clarion Books / Pages: 40

Turtles have long sparked curiosity and affection, and Sy Montgomery captures humankind’s fascination with them in The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle. This nonfiction book introduces young readers to Fire Chief, a snapping turtle whose decades-long presence in a community is threatened by the town’s growth.

With warmth and realism, Montgomery tells Fire Chief’s story and addresses the challenges turtles face: predation, habitat loss, and dangers from human activities. Summering near the fire station and crossing the increasingly busy road to spend winters in a larger pond, Fire Chief is seriously injured one day on this trek. Locals rally to help him, showing how humans can become compassionate partners in wildlife conservation, and highlighting the power of collective problem solving. Matt Patterson illustrates Fire Chief and his habitat in beautiful, naturalistic detail that will keep readers engaged as they share his journey from a quarter-sized hatchling to a 42-pound adult.

An accompanying educators’ guide suggests ways to use this book and one of Montgomery’s other titles, The Book of Turtles, in a classroom. It includes activities and discussion questions that can be adapted for different grade levels and tied to standards for reading, English language arts, and science. (The guide mentions HeadStart programs, in which turtle hatchlings are raised in captivity for later release, as a means of fostering interest in wildlife conservation. AWI does not recommend this program for grades below high school, and those involved in the turtles’ care should be properly trained to ensure the animals’ welfare.)

Whether read independently or incorporated into lessons about local wildlife, The True and Lucky Life of a Turtle reminds young readers that respect and responsibility toward animals begin in our own communities.

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