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Harry the Tortoise:

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'Harry the Tortoise (is on his way)' is one of the few books written in the first tortoise narrative.

Through the mind of a family pet; a 17 year old red-footed tortoise, children of 8+ years old are taken on a journey. This is a journey that explores the themes of friendship, the environment, trust, nature, honesty, farming methods and being you. Harry's simple outlook on life shines a light on the value and depth of true friendship through Harry's connection with Dimmy the

"Friendship is important to Dimmy and I. For sure, we may not look or sound the same. We come from different parts of the world, but our love of strawberries brings us together. It’s great to share a passion with your friend, isn’t it? I think so. I first met Dimmy over a strawberry."

Other characters such as Cecilia the Crow and Lorna Ladybird illuminate Harry's journey to find the world's biggest strawberry. However, it is the close friendship with Dimmy the Donkey that draws heavily on the theme of trust, despite physical and other differences. They use their differences to help each other out.

There is innocence to Harry that comes out in the trusting relationship built up with Dimmy. Another side to friendship comes out through dependence. This is found in Harry's relationship with his owner Sophia; a young child. Mischievousness distracts Harry from his journey to the giant strawberry. That said, this simply adds to the entertainment of the story.

There is a song, with full lyrics in chapter 5 that accompanies Harry's journey towards the strawberries. It is a song that stands alone without music, so the reader can join in and sing Harry on his

"Harry the Tortoise is on his way; the problem is it’ll take him all day, but when he makes it he’s here to stay. It’s just impossible for him to have any other way. Harry the Tortoise is on his way; the problem is it’ll take him all day, but when he makes it he’s here to stay. It’s just impossible for him to have it any other way."

Friendly images aid the accessible nature of this, at times educational, but always warm, welcoming and friendly story. The reader finds out more and more about Harry as he meets different characters, whilst trying to get to a giant strawberry. The story is simple to follow, whilst inviting thought on a range of topics. It is also written to educate children on the ways of tortoises, in particular; red-footed tortoises.

The true story of Manuela, also a red-footed tortoise, is told from Harry's understanding and helps with this aim. The user-friendly layout of the story, makes this a perfect introduction to chapter books for children aged 8 years and older. The book is also suitable to be read to those under 8 years old.

55 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2021

1 person is currently reading
2 people want to read

About the author

David Adair

2 books

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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Profile Image for Natasha.
238 reviews94 followers
August 11, 2023
This was my second book by the author and just like the previous one, my kids loved this too. Infact, we liked this one better. The author has wonderfully woven facts about different animals through this story as well which makes it easier for the kids to learn. When they enjoy what they read, they learn what they enjoyed.

Harry is Sophia's pet tortoise and the adventures he goes on are so funny. All for strawberries. Yes, that's right, Harry's love for strawberries is unparalleled, so much so that he doesn't mind risking his life for them. And he has friends who share his excitement and are partners in crime.

Since this is a short story, I don't want to divulge much about the exact storyline but I can say that this is a very good way to teach the younger kids the importance of being passionate about something in life and trying to achieve it. That's a very important lesson here.

I read this book to my kids with no modifications (for a change) and they loved the story. They recommend it and so do I. This was a quick read and I finished it in half an hour. I loved the illustrations. Oh, and did I mention that Harry has his own song, originally sung for him by Sophia?
Profile Image for M.K. Dockery.
Author 8 books29 followers
January 30, 2022
Harry is quite lovable from the get go. So I sneaked a peek on my cloud reader, since I purchased the paperback for my children. And well Harry and his love of strawberries and his interesting way he has conceived of finding them is cute. The author has a way of weaving a network of friends into a warm tale that feels welcoming from the start. M. K. Dockery
Profile Image for Laurie Oknowsky.
7 reviews4 followers
April 12, 2021
This book looks like a great read for young readers. Easy to follow and absorb. It looks like it holds a readers attention throughout. And what kid wouldn’t like to know a tortoises POV?!
Profile Image for Danielle.
76 reviews5 followers
June 22, 2021
Wow! such a nice book! This book is great for middle grades with easy to follow words, easy concepts, and an interesting take from a turtles point of view..
Profile Image for Rebecca.
85 reviews
February 22, 2024
Harry the Tortoise is on his way to find strawberries with his friends Dimmy the Donkey and Sophia. These three friends experience several adventures all while teaching you about tortoises. I like how the friends encourage and help each other out. The pictures are cute too.
Profile Image for David Adair.
Author 3 books2 followers
July 3, 2021
An engaging look at the world through the POV of a strawberry 🍓 obsessed red-footed tortoise.

Themes of trust, honesty, plastic pollution, friendship and live your best life helps engage young readers.A song cuts through the middle of the book and children are invited to sing along, increasing the interaction between the reader and the story.

Literacy matters and this book seeks to encourage independent reading for eight plus year olds. The book is an ideal interactive experience when it is read to those younger than eight years old.

Give it a go!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews