Tommy Turtle


Children - Animals
33 Pages
Reviewed on 04/19/2022
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Mary L. Schmidt writes under the name of S. Jackson along with her husband Michael, pen name A Raymond. She grew up in a small Kansas (USA) town and I lived in more than one state since then. At this time, my husband and I split our time between Kansas and Colorado (we love the mountains and off road 4-wheeling). Traveling is one of our most favorite things to do and I always have a book or even three books that I read, in the same week. Books were really my thing. It seemed like every time I turned around, I was obtaining a new library card due to the current one being stamped complete. Diving into a good book made any day perfect and you would be surprised at the number of books I read over and over. I drew paper dolls and clothes for them, and using watercolor as my medium when painting scenes, especially flowers. I continued with art in high school exploring a wide variety of arts and I loved it! The creative side of me loves to be an amateur "shutter-bug" and we have an online art gallery. In college I went into the sciences of all things and received a bachelor’s degree in the Science of Nursing. My nursing career was highly successful, and I hung up my nursing hat in December 2012. Since then, over 35 books written. They love writing books and spending time with their grandchildren, Austin, and Emma.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Melinda Facal for Readers' Favorite

Tommy Turtle is a children’s picture book written by Mary and Michael Schmidt. In this engaging story, we follow Tommy, a shy turtle who is very reluctant to leave his home. Other turtles invite him out to play but Tommy is nervous and fearful that he will not fit in with the other turtles. One day he decides to venture out after a friendly turtle named Jerry asks him to join in. Through the encouragement of Jerry and the other turtles, Tommy learns that he can have fun and play with all the other turtles. Tommy also learns that sometimes it is okay to be quiet and to just observe what is going on. Many children will understand Tommy and his feelings of shyness. Children will find comfort in knowing that they are not the only ones who are reserved and that it is normal to feel this way from time to time.

The bashful little turtle in Tommy Turtle shares an experience that many young readers will relate to. Being timid and shy can make one’s experiences difficult or challenging. Through Tommy’s example, children will see that shyness can be overcome and also that it is common to feel afraid or reserved. Cheerful and vibrant illustrations accompany this story and will engage young readers as they follow Tommy from his hesitancy to play with other turtles to joining in the fun with his new friends. This is a highly recommended read that is sure to prompt discussions about the different emotions children experience in social situations. Parents, caregivers, and educators will find this book to be a helpful resource that addresses shyness encouragingly and positively.

Vincent Dublado

Tommy Turtle by Mary and Michael Schmidt is a cute little story about overcoming shyness and how mingling with others helps develop self-confidence. At the core of this tale is Tommy, a shy land turtle who is too nervous to play or speak so he prefers to hide in his shell. A turtle named Jerry tells Tommy that it’s okay to be nervous, and he invites Tommy to come out and splash in the puddles. But Tommy is afraid that the other turtles may not want to play with him, and that they might make fun of him. Jerry wants to make new friends and play, and he suggests to Tommy that they start by playing together. If Tommy feels comfortable after that, then they can play with the other turtles. And so begins Tommy’s exercise in sharpening his social skills.

Tommy Turtle is a sweet situational story that illustrates a typical scenario or a day in the life of a shy child. Mary and Michael Schmidt got it right in depicting a child’s nervousness and feeling of isolation around other people or kids. The story is a step-by-step process of showing young readers that it doesn’t hurt for them to get out of their shells. As shyness is a natural stage in a child’s development, this story reminds them that they can derive a great sense of purpose and confidence when presented with an opportunity to exercise their interpersonal skills. The crisp images of different types of turtles put an emphasis on diversity and the value of inclusion. For parents and teachers struggling to deal with shy children, this storybook can be a good starting point to help them get the message.

Philip Van Heusen

Have you ever been lonely? Do you find yourself avoiding making friends because you are shy? If your children answer “yes” to either of these two questions, this book is for them. Come join Tommy—the shy turtle—as he learns to be more open. Tommy meets new friends, and they help him open up and learn to play freely with others. While Mary and Michael Schmidt teach how to overcome shyness in Tommy Turtle, they also remind children that it is sometimes ok to be shy. This cute story starts with Tommy being afraid to play with other turtles because he thinks that they will make fun of him. Unfortunately, this is a common fear among children. However, Jerry makes a special effort to include Tommy, and the results are excellent.

Mary and Michael Schmidt's Tommy Turtle addresses social issues. Shyness is one of the major problems among children. Other children may be outgoing, but shy children draw back from fun activities because of fear. They often look at others having fun with envy but overcoming their fear of rejection or being made fun of is difficult. No one should make fun of a child for being shy. Shy is a defense technique in surviving society. Tommy wants to be accepted like all the other turtles but is scared. His fear is exhibited in shyness. Reading this book with your children will allow you to broach the subject of shyness, whether theirs or one of their friends. Discuss ways your children can cope with shyness or how to be a good friend and help another shy child cope.