Author Renee Hills and Illustrator Anna Jacobson

‘Turtle Love’ starts with a young boy skipping out the front door to greet the day, greet his friends and the beach that lay ahead. He and his friends savour the grit of the sand, the slapping waves, the flying seagulls and scurrying little soldier crabs. The glorious beach environment is part of the children’s home. Young Jacob believes his home is forever. That the world is a good place and that nothing will ever change. Here is when Hills has decided that young readers need a ‘reality check’. She positions young Jacob to make a decision, whether to take that ‘one brave step’ towards protecting turtles who had nested there for centuries.

Co-authors* Hills and Jacobson’s ‘jolt’ for this young boy is unsettling – yet effective. One moment, he’s frolicking with friends on textured buttery sand – inviting readers to jump in for a play. Next, he’s in the adult world faced with big ship ‘propellers churning the ocean floor’, dirtying waters and reducing seagrass growth. All of which impacts on the flatback turtles and other sea creatures’ seagrass supply. Prior to this mood dampener, text was unobtrusive, illustrations were as exciting and vibrant as the children’s sun shiny day. But when the ‘blue page’ hit, text became intrusive – banishing the sandy beach to the bottom corner. Even, the buoyant purples and emerald greens were now sinister, like big ships, looming over the turtle habitat.

However, Hills has guided young readers into realising, there are solutions to problems. And in communities there are people like port managers, scientists, governments and Windellas, ‘Keepers of the Stories’ to turn for help and advice.

This empowering book shows how ‘one person’ can make a difference. How information is power and that motivating a community into action can be difficult. But when like-minded communities communicate, no matter the ‘summers and winters’ that passed, everyone still waited and hoped the flatback turtles would return to nest again.

‘Turtle Love’ can also be used as an information text with flatback turtle and habitat facts added at the end of the book.

Congratulations to Renee Hills for the power of words which inspired Anna Jacobson’s empowering illustrations.

 

‘Turtle Love’ is available: renee@brookfield.fastmail.fm  or 0414 275 620.

*co-authors – creators of word and picture narratives

 

 

 

 

Life’s too short, to take on the world, without a good book. MPB

 

Maria Parenti-Baldey, primary school teacher, writer, amateur photographer and blogger.  www.bigsisterblogs.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations to Renee Hills for the power of words which inspired Anna Jacobson empowering illustrations.

https://www.facebook.com/renaissancerenee/

‘Turtle Love’ is available: Renee Hill’s website or  any good bookstores.

*co-authors – creators of word and picture narratives

 

 

 

Life’s too short, to take on the world, without good books. MPB

 

Maria Parenti-Baldey, primary school teacher, writer, amateur photographer and blogger.  www.bigsisterblogs.com