Toby the Tortoise

by Gerald Durrell

Gerald, a boy growing up on the Greek island of Corfu, rescues a land tortoise from the sea and introduces it into the company of the frogs, toads, snakes, crabs, octopuses, and other animal friends he has cultivated

Genres: Animals, Nature, Childrens

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell was born in India in 1925. His elder siblings are Lawrence Durrell, Leslie Durrell, and Margaret Durrell. His family settled on Corfu when Gerald was a boy and he spent his time studying its wildlife. He relates these experiences in the trilogy beginning with My Family And Other Animals, and continuing with Birds, Beasts, And Relatives and The Garden Of The Gods. In his books he writes with wry humour and great perception about both the humans and the animals he meets.

On leaving Corfu he returned to England to work on the staff of Whipsnade Park as a student keeper. His adventures there are told with characteristic energy in Beasts In My Belfry. A few years later, Gerald began organising his own animal-collecting expeditions. The first, to the Cameroons, was followed by expeditions to Paraguay, Argentina and Sierra Leone. He recounts these experiences in a number of books, including The Drunken Forest. Gerald also visited many countries while shooting various television series, including An Amateur Naturalist. In 1958 Gerald Durrell realised a lifelong dream when he set up the Jersey Zoological Park, followed a few years later by the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust.

Gerald was married twice; Jacquie Durrell (1951-1979), Lee Durrell (1979-1995).

Gerald Durrell's style is exuberant, passionate and acutely observed. He died in 1995.

Reviews

[PuPilla]

A Gerald Durrell életmű-összegyűjtő projekt részeként megszereztem magamnak ezt a Durrell-mesét is, és meglepődve láttam, hogy ez egy vékony, rövid kis könyvecske. A fiamnak is felolvastam, és ő is szereti, kivéve azt a részt, ahol a teknős átmászik Margot-n, és megkarmolja véletlenül. :D
A képi világ csodaszép, festményszerű, hangulatos. Megjelenik Korfu, ahol Gerry felnőtt, az olajfákkal, sziklákkal, tengerparttal. És persze egy csomó állat. A képi világ mellett azonban a történet adhatna azért kicsit többet is.

[Trounin]

Дарреллу понравилось выпускать небольшие иллюстрированные книги для детей. Учитывая небольшой их объём, весь смысл содержания приходилось отражать художнику. Вновь Кит Уэст взялся помочь Дарреллу. Теперь уже не прогулка по Джерсийскому зоопарку, читателю предстоит увидеть совсем юного Джеральда, отправившего с псом Роджером бродить по Корфу, дабы спасти тонущую сухопутную черепаху Тоби. Обретя нового друга, Даррелл пригласит его на день рождения и подберёт для него пару. Как должен понимать читатель, прелесть произведения заключается в самих иллюстрациях. Приятно разглядывать изображения некогда важных для Джеральда мест, неоднократно им упомянутых в автобиографических произведениях.

(c) Trounin

[Danielle Godwin]

I read this book as a child and occasionally the pictures from it (specifically of Tody climbing on people and eating strawberries) would pop in my mind, but it wasn't until I was reading Gerald Durrell's book My Family and Other Animals that it triggered my memory so completely that I went on a mad google search until I found this glorious book again!
Brilliant story and beautiful pictures that have stayed nestled happily in my memory for many years

[Anthony]

The story of a young boy who lives on the Greek island of Corfu where he collects insects and animals. One morning he rescues a tortoise, and names him Toby. Toby likes living with the boy, but tells him that something is missing in his life. So the boy and Toby set out to find what is missing in Toby's life.

[Alaina Sloo]

Another story about Durrell as he and his dog wander around the island where they live, making friends with the animals on the island and inviting them home.

[Carmen]

A short sweet story about a tortoise Gerry found inn Corfu.

[Bärbel]

I expected more from Durrell.

[Helen]

This story tells about Gerald Durrell's adoption of a tortoise on the island of Corfu. He acts as if he and the animals can talk with each other.

[Omkar Kumble]

This one was just a quick read. It is quite a nice book for children, although I do dream to be the boy in the story!

[Katie]

Loved this book! Charming story and artwork that engages the reader and the listener. It would have made the wishlist shelf, but for one odd picture...the "sister" in a bikini ( ahem, well developed) ....could have been done so much more tastefully.