Baby Honu's Incredible Journey

by Tammy Yee

Baby Honu has just hatched from his egg. Will he find the courage to face sand crabs and sea birds on his perilous journey to the sea? And what wondrous creatures will he encounter in the ocean? Learn about the life of a baby Pacific green sea turtle as he faces ocean predators in this riveting adventure from the nest to the open ocean.

This island classic features a glossary that teaches children about Hawaiian marine life.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Science

40 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1997

About the author

Tammy Yee is the author and/or illustrator of more than 40 children's books. She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi where she explored tide pools, swam in streams, and wrote and illustrated spooky stories her teachers politely read. After she graduated from college, she worked as a pediatric nurse.
Having children rekindled her love for picture books, so in 1994 she exchanged her stethoscope for a paintbrush, and she's been writing and illustrating ever since. In 2022, she was inducted into the Children's Literature of Hawaii's (CLH) Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute baby turtle Honu needs to get the ocean before birds and other animals eat him after hatching. Sweet picture book full of Hawaiian words in an easy to understand story. Kids liked to read it during independent reading time.

[Breezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations were really cute in this story.

[Rebecca Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

My niece's favorite

[Avery Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baby Honu's Incredible Journey is about a baby turtle named Honu and his journey to be reunited with his sisters and brothers in the sea. He goes through many struggles, almost gets eaten, and dropped from great heights before he makes it safely into the ocean and to his family. This book is beautifully illustrated with bright colors and detailed drawings. It also takes place in Hawaii and uses Hawaiian words for different animals. This would be the perfect time to teach students about other cultures and even some new words in a different language. The book even has a helpful glossary at the end to teach students and teachers these new words. Lastly, this book covers an event that actually takes place in the world; the laying and hatching of baby turtles. Teachers could also take this opportunity to teach students about this life cycle and how it really is a perilous journey to the sea. I will definitely be keeping this book for my future classroom.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful tale of baby honu, from his beginnings when his Mom buries his egg in the sand with about 99 of his brothers and sisters, to growing in the egg, to hatching and then his adventure getting to the ocean, fraught with peril everywhere. It's a cute story and Tammy Yee's inimitable illustrations are terrific. Even better, we had an oppotunity to listen to her read it aloud. so it made for a very memorable storytime.

[☆Brittany☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd like this book a little more if I knew how to pronounce the Hawaiian words that were through out it.

I think my son's favorite part was at the mention of the 'booby' because he burst out laughing - typical boy & at 4 yrs old too!

A very cute story & my son liked it. I just know I butchered the Hawaiian words.

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in the waiting room of the doctor's office to my 4yo, I nearly cried when the baby sea turtle wanted to return to his egg and wondered where on Earth the ocean was he dreamed about. After my son's appointment, he got to choose a toy and he chose a turtle.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 A cute book about sea turtles. I liked the pictures and the story. The Hawaiian Words threw me off, but there is a pronunciation guide in the back so...you can figure it out!

[TJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute look at a baby Honu's journey to the sea. Well illustrated, cute story line and fun Hawaiian words mixed in.