17. Tally Tuttle Turns Into a Turtle

Tally Tuttle Turns Into a Turtle. (Class Critters #1) Kathryn Holmes. Illustrated by Ariel Landy. 2021. [August] 128 pages. [Source: Review copy]

First sentence: It was the first day of school, and Tally Tuttle's stomach hurt.

Premise/plot: Tally Tuttle is anxious about starting her new school. (I believe the family has recently moved.) She doesn't know anyone, and, well, she'd rather not be the center of attention. She wants to make new friends, but, is nervous about that whole process too. So much *might* go wrong. What Tally Tuttle never expected in a hundred million years was that her new classroom has a BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG secret.

It wouldn't be a spoiler to say that involves human students TURNING INTO or transforming into animals. And, you guessed it, Tally Tuttle turns into a turtle! (Big shock, I know.) This becoming-a-turtle gives Tally a whole new perspective on life. If she ever wants to be human again, she'd better learn a significant life lesson.

My thoughts: This is the first in a new chapter book series for lower elementary grades. Personally, I loved, loved, loved the illustrations and thought they were super cute and adorable. The story is silly but relatable. (If that makes sense.) It is silly in that it has humans magically transforming into animals. It is relatable in that who hasn't been nervous when starting a new school or new class? Change--even little changes--can feel ENORMOUS.

 

© 2022 Becky Laney of Young Readers