Rachel and Obadiah

by Brinton Turkle, Rea Berg (Editor)

In the days when Nantucket whaling ships could be away at sea for years at a time, a vessel's safe return was celebrated by all the inhabitants of the island. Runners would carry the joyous news as soon as the vessel was sighted from the island's highest point.

When Obadiah is hired for this important task, his little sister Rachel is certain that she can be trusted with such a mission as well. Their childlike competition plays out in a delightful story of determination and sportsmanship. Illustrated with Turkle's whimsical watercolor illustrations throughout.

Beautiful Feet Books, in cooperation with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and Brinton Turkle's grown children--Matilda Rubin, and Haynes and Jonathan Turkle--are delighted to present these new 2018 editions of the Obadiah books for the next generation of readers. Working with Mr. Turkle's original charcoal and watercolor paintings, we have endeavored to restore the integrity, clarity, and beauty of the artist's work.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction

31 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Jen]

A good solid story that paints a lively picture of life on Nantucket, among the Quakers.

[Mir]

Charming adaptation of the tortoise and the hare fable with little Nantucket children competing to see who can run fastest to bring the news of the safe return of a ship.

[Katt Hansen]

Here's a nice fresh take on that whole "Tortoise and the Hare" story that's been thrown around forever. Set historically at the dawn of our nation, we have two children who are both dying for the honor or being able to take the news of a ship coming in to harbor. Of course Obadiah feels that a GIRL shouldn't be able to do something so important as all that. So yay, girl power in the 1600s! Woo hoo!

Cute story with beautiful illustrations and a ton of historical detail that is fun to read. To me this is the ultimate kind of picture book. :) Loved this one!

[Josephine]

Little Rachel, the youngest sibling in the Starbuck family, proves to Big Brother Obadiah that girls are every bit as good as boys when she has the opportunity to run tell the waiting family of a ship at sea that the ship has come back to port safely with all hands aboard.

[Karen]

Ellie read for her November Pizza Hut Reading Challenge..krb 11/14/16 She rated this 3 stars. Mom rates it 5 stars.

[Marilyn]

Alissa, Charles and I re-enacted this story a lot.

[David Corleto-Bales]

Rachel becomes a feminist icon in Nantucket, circa 1850, as she races a dismissive Obadiah in a contest to see who can have the honor of informing the townspeople of the return of a ship.

[Lisa DiGiacomo]

Sweetly illustrated. A lovely description of the excitement of times gone by when important vessels would come into port! In this case the Speedwell into Nantucket.

I'd think good for ages: 3 to 7

[Janet]

Obadiah and his sister Rachel are running a race to see which one will deliver the message to the Captain’s wife that her husband’s ship is returning to Nantucket. This happening occurred often on Nantucket, someone running throughout the village that a ship was about to land.
Copyrighted 1978.

[Libby Hill]

Obadiah learns the hard way you should never underestimate someone smaller in size than you.

Super cute!

Highly recommended for 4-6 year olds

[Sandy]

A darling and wholesome little book about some healthy sibling rivalry set in Colonial America.

[DeNae]

These are adorable books set in Nantucket in the 1800s and focusing on a Quaker family.

[Erin]

Another great Obadiah book. This is my girls’ new favorite in the series!

[Monique]

In a very tiny voice, Rachel said, "Would thee send me?"

[Mckinley]

With a name like Obadiah it's very certain the story will be about Quakers. A younger sister races her brother in tortoise and the hare like manner.

[Kelly]

We love the Obadiah books!

[Wayne Walker]

Obadiah Starbuck lives with his Father, Mother, older brothers Moses and Asa, and sisters Rebecca and Rachel among the Friends (Quakers) of Nantucket Island, MA, back in the days when Nantucket’s whaling ships could be away at sea for years at a time and a vessel’s safe return was celebrated by all the inhabitants of the island. One day, Obadiah and Rachel are picking blackberries, although Obadiah is eating more than he is saving, when their brother Asa brings the news from miller Jacob Slade of the Clio’s arrival and receives a silver coin for his efforts.

The Speedwell is also set to come back soon, and Obadiah asks if he can be chosen to announce its return and get the coin. However, his younger sister Rachel is certain that she too can be trusted with such a mission. But Obadiah says that girls cannot run as fast as boys. Miller Slade agrees to a race to see who is faster with the winner getting the job. Will the race be fair? What happens when they pass a blackberry patch? And who wins? Author Brinton Turkle, who was born in Alliance, OH, illustrated this delightful story of determination and sportsmanship with whimsical watercolors throughout as well.

Rachel and Obadiah, which also contains an important message about the danger of boasting and a surprise example of generosity at the end, is part of a series of four “Obadiah” Books, which are great historical fiction for youngsters. After children learn to read, they need short, engaging books with which to practice their newly developed skills, and these would be great for that. They are word-heavy picture books, so beginning readers might require some help. The other volumes in the series are Thy Friend, Obadiah, which won a Caldecott Honor award in 1970; Obadiah the Bold; and The Adventures of Obadiah.