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Red Red Red

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Turtle is in a big hurry. And that’s hard for turtles to do. But he’s off to see something red and he can’t be late. But is it red like Rabbit’s roses? Or Goat’s socks? Or Fox’s roof? All the neighbors want to know, so off they go in a long parade to follow Turtle. But when he finally stops, there’s nothing red in sight. Until all at once they see red, red, red.

Yet another trip into the inviting world of Valeri Gorbachev awaits young readers in this charming story. As the anticipation builds, so does the fun. And readers will be tickled—red—by the warm, rosy ending.

40 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2007

1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read

About the author

Valeri Gorbachev

102 books22 followers
Valeri Gorbachev is the author and illustrator of a number of children's books, both in the United States and Europe, including Nicky And The Big Bad Wolves and Where is the Apple Pie? Mr. Gorbachev immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991 and now lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York.

(from harpercollins.com)

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5 stars
56 (23%)
4 stars
83 (35%)
3 stars
84 (35%)
2 stars
11 (4%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Roya.
757 reviews164 followers
July 4, 2025
اینکه غروب جمعه این کتاب رو بخونی، بیشترترتر کِیف میده. دوست داشتم به جای تراس خونه‌ای در شهر، روی تپه‌ با دوست‌هام بشینم و غروب و رسیدن شب رو تماشا کنم.
تصویرگری کتاب رو خیلی دوست داشتم، منو یاد انیمیشن‌های بچگی‌م می‌نداخت😭
کلا که وایب خوبی بهم داد و انگار نویسنده‌ی کتاب یه گربه‌ی اوکراینی‌ئه... گورباچف =))))
Profile Image for Ðayana.
68 reviews16 followers
Read
July 25, 2025
عاشق غروب نارنجی‌ام.
وقتی لاک پشت عجله داشت، یاد خرگوش آلیس افتادم.
Profile Image for امیرمحمد حیدری.
Author 1 book73 followers
September 11, 2025
دیدن کجا، تماشا کردن کجا، قدردانی از زیبایی یک سوژه کجا؟ همه‌ی این‌ها در یک قصه، برای کودکان، آن هم با تصویرسازی‌های خاص گورباچف.
Profile Image for Anthony.
7,281 reviews31 followers
August 17, 2019
Turtle is in a hurry to see something red, red, red, and has no time to stop and tell his neighbors what it is. One by one he his joined and followed by his neighbors and they all see what it is that Turtle was in such a hurry to see.
Profile Image for Dianna.
1,955 reviews43 followers
January 2, 2019
I'm not a fan of reading aloud repetitive texts like this one . . . but the pictures are just so adorable!
Profile Image for Gita.
358 reviews79 followers
January 3, 2023
هرچی از مجموعه‌ی "قصه‌های دوستی" خوندم خیلی دوستش داشتم.
اول فکر میکردم کتاب در ستایش آهسته زندگی کردن و توجه به اطرافه. بعد دیدم که نه، لاک‌پشت واقعا دنبال یک چیز قرمزِ قرمزِ قرمزه.
Profile Image for Rose Rosetree.
Author 15 books477 followers
September 17, 2023
It's a bit of a mystery, this picture book for toddlers and older kids. Turtle is off to see something red, but what???

The story that follows is just suspenseful enough for a tender young kid. (And also for me, actually.)

Everything builds to a most satisfying ending. Although no spoilers from me, no no!

FIVE STARS to Valerie Gorbachev for his usual economical text, packed with narrative interest. Especially magnificent to me are Valerie's illustrations. The style is so different from (equally gorgeous) pictures in "Shhh!"

Seems to me, this artist and author have a lot of range.
140 reviews1 follower
May 24, 2018
A recommended read aloud for children 6-8 by the Minnesota State University. An enjoyable animal tale that builds and builds as the story goes along. Just what is the red red red that turtle is looking for? Animals in town start to follow turtle to find out. Readers are in for a beautiful red red red treat at the end. Nature lovers will especially enjoy. A nice read aloud for 1st or 2nd grade classrooms.
16 reviews1 follower
March 21, 2022
The picture book Red Red Red is a part of the fantasy genre. This book is about the protagonist, Turtle, traveling through town. With each page, a new character follows behind him to see what red thing Turtle is looking for. This book is great to read to emerging and beginning readers due to the repetitive phrases written in prose used throughout the book. You’ll love both the story and the illustrations of this adorable book. The theme of this book is to enjoy the little things.
Profile Image for Miss Becky.
333 reviews
July 3, 2025
Turtle is in a hurry. When asked where he is going he says that he is off to see something red. Is it Raccoon's roses? No. He has no time to say what it is. Soon different animals join in and follow Turtle. Rabbit's tomatoes? No. Goat's socks? No. Fox's red roof? No...... Soon they reach the top of a hill and Turtle says "Here we are....Red is Coming." Then they all watch the sunset together.
This is a great read aloud while letting kids guess what Turtle is rushing to find.
Profile Image for Shawn Deal.
Author 19 books19 followers
March 24, 2017
Turtle goes out into the day looking for something red, red, red. During his trip he finds many red things, but not the something he is looking for. Lots of friends join him in his journey to find something red, red, red.
Profile Image for Romi :) "Woman. Life. Freedom".
57 reviews
September 27, 2022
همه با شادی می‌گویند: «اووووه! غروب!»
لاک پشت هم می‌گوید: «بله. غروبِ قرمزِ زیبا.»
و همه با لذت به غروب نگاه می‌کنند.
(September 27, 2022.. 11:47)
+قرمزِ قرمزِ قرمز!
+I've been interested in short childish stories recently 👀🙂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
40 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2024
This book was adorable, it was such a fun read and kept me entertained. The characters are super cute and the end of the story was really beautiful. I would for sure have this in my class due to the meaning of the story and the idea of taking time to appreciate good things.
Profile Image for Rebecca Watts.
112 reviews4 followers
July 10, 2024
Being a former librarian, I kept thinking we were dealing with a homonym and turtle might be rushing to get to the library for evening storytime. But no, that wasn't it.

A sweet book of community involvement.
Profile Image for Courtney.
140 reviews3 followers
June 9, 2017
Good for /r/ in speech therapy, but it's too long for most kiddos to hold attention. I usually shorten each page as I read.
Profile Image for Diana Flores.
855 reviews4 followers
March 22, 2023
Will be reading this for a Family Storytime at the library. I'm a fan of Valeri Gorbachev's books, and this one is no exception!
Profile Image for WrittenbySahra.
412 reviews129 followers
January 15, 2025
دختری که عاشق سرخی غروب بود یه روز این کتاب رو اتفاقی کشف کرد و بیشتر عاشق غروب شد
<3
Profile Image for Julie.
92 reviews
February 1, 2015
Ages 4-8.

Turtle is in a hurry to find something that is red, red, red. He catches the attention of his neighbors, who point out that they all have something red (roses, tomatoes, socks, etc) but that is not what Turtle is looking for. A big group of animals finally arrive at Turtle's destination just in time to see...the sunset.

This book has a nice mix of text and dialogue. It is also really engaging for children, who like to point out the various red items on the pages. My 7 year old could not help but point out all the different items on the pages that were red. This would be a great book for preschoolers and kindergarteners.

The language is really simple, with a lot of repetition that builds on previous pages. The pictures are nice drawings of the animals, all living as if they were people, in houses, running grocery stores, etc. The big "mystery" of what the red, red, red object Turtle is in a hurry to see is a nice discussion point for kids. What is Turtle wanting to find? And why is he in a hurry?

I would use this as a concept book for preschoolers or kindergarteners to discuss the color red. My seven year old enjoyed it, but it felt too far beneath her for a read-aloud book. It would be a good read alone book for first and second graders.
Profile Image for April.
58 reviews
October 12, 2012
1. Rating: 4
2. A book review from Children's Literature says, "This cumulative tale begins one evening as Turtle is racing through town. Each animal he passes asks him where he is going in such a hurry. He replies that he is "off to see something red, red, red." In turn they try to guess what it is, but he says "no" to each suggestion. So the curious animals fall in line behind him. Finally there is quite a procession following as Turtle climbs the hill overlooking the lake. There they all end up, just in time to sigh happily together as the red sun sets, and there they stay until the moon appears."
3. I really liked the detailed illustrations in this book; they kept you interested the whole time. I thought it was a great predictable and interactive type of book to read-aloud to students and ask them what they think turtle is looking for that is "red, red, red." I also thought the ending was perfect and a good reminder to enjoy the little things in life (like beautiful sunsets).
Profile Image for Melki.
7,313 reviews2,622 followers
May 15, 2019
Everyone is curious about the red thing that turtle is going to see . . . and so they follow him to catch a glimpse of the mysterious object. There's really not much else to this tale, but Gorbachev's darling illustrations, and the sweet ending, make the trip worthwhile.
959 reviews2 followers
February 10, 2017
The story here is pretty basic but fun. The repetition helps the story flow while building up a bit of tension. Along with this, the illustrations really shine, particularly the final two pages with the sunset and moonrise.
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
2,323 reviews56 followers
March 10, 2011
Simply a delight and perfect as a read aloud. Turtle is on the search for something "Red, red, red". As each page turns we try to discover what that something is. When we find out we make a sigh at the breathtaking picture (I will not spoil what it is!) because it is indeed red, red, red and wonderful to behold.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews

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