About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like a 'small fish' in a world of grown-up rules, or when a family trip is failing to live up to the hype. This charming story follows Hubert, a young turtle who finds himself the only child at a stuffy, quiet seaside hotel filled with elderly guests. It captures that specific childhood ache of being bored and misunderstood by adults who value silence over play. James Stevenson uses a breezy, comic-strip style to show how an unexpected friendship with a kindred spirit can transform a lonely experience into an adventure. It is an ideal choice for validating a child's feelings of isolation while offering a hopeful, gentle resolution. Perfect for kids aged 4 to 8, this book celebrates the quiet magic of the natural world and the joy of finding someone who finally speaks your language.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
The book deals with mild social isolation and the feeling of being an outsider. The approach is secular and metaphorical, using the 'stuffy hotel' as a stand-in for any environment where a child's natural energy is suppressed. The resolution is hopeful and realistic, focusing on quality friendship over quantity.
