Memoirs of a Tortoise by Devin Scillian, Tim Bowers
Published by Sleeping Bear Press on May 15, 2020
ISBN: 1534110194
Pages: 32
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
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Add this to the other “Memoir…” books by this author, but more importantly, add it to your shelf on how to talk to children about the death of anyone, be it a pet or family or friend. 

Told in monthly installments from April to April, (which is Oliver’s favorite month) the reader shares the tortoise’s excitement and pleasure in his life with his pet, Ike (an elderly man) and then confusion and hurt when Ike suddenly disappears. Details about Ike and Oliver are gently distributed throughout the memoir, rather than dumped into the first few pages. Likewise, it takes a few pages and possibly some rereading to realize Ike has died. The reader struggles along with Oliver to understand loss and then develop gratitude for “…all those beautiful days we were lucky enough to have them (our pets) with us.” The sweet humor of the humans being the pets nicely balances the topic of death in a satisfying and compassionate manner.

This books joins the author’s collection illustrated by Tim Bowers:  Memoirs of a Goldfish (2010) …Hamster (2013) …Elf(2014) and …Parrot (2016: which was the 2018 Chickadee Award Winner),  

Reviewed by Lynn Mayer, Retired Librarian, Old Town Elementary School, Old Town