Nellie's Big Splash

December 1, 2024

Gr 1-3-This book takes on the warm, inspiring story of Nellie the sea turtle and the hesitancy everyone feels, especially children, before getting the courage to leap. When Nellie hatches, she finds herself on a beach surrounded by many of her siblings. While the others eagerly dash into the ocean, Nellie pauses. The ocean is loud, vast, and unfamiliar, and Nellie feels safer on dry land. When night falls and the beach becomes cold, Nellie realizes that beyond the intimidating waves lies a whole world waiting for her to explore. All she has to do is take a leap into the water. The telling is solidly inviting, deceptively simple, as Doerr-feld captures the vivid details, full of charm and warmth, through seaside illustrations perfect for this turtle journey. VERDICT A lovely tale of finding courage when embracing new adventures, just right for the early elementary shelves.-Susan McClellan

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 25, 2024
Tiny, wide-eyed sea turtle Nellie watches her hatchling cohort head rapidly to the water, but the huge wall of blue, white-capped waves is just too scary for her to follow. She opts to head in the opposite direction, but her first two choices for
refuge—inside a pink shell, atop a large sea mammal—both end up in the waves as well (the first is swept away, the second proves an avid bodysurfer). Desperation lands Nellie on a rocky plateau, only to recognize the presence of even stronger feelings: “She was cold, lonely, and missed the other turtles more than ever.” The waves are a big obstacle, but Nellie realizes that if she can “make it through,” what appears beyond—a turquoise sea full of all kinds of creatures—will welcome her. Working in friendly cartoons with sponge-textured, pastel hues, Doerrfeld (Goodnight School) imbues the sentiment that “the only way out is through” with deep empathy, proof once again of her exceptional talent in buoying characters—and readers—in the face of turbulent emotional waters. Ages 3–7. Agent: Rachel Orr, Prospect Agency.

January 15, 2025
Doerrfeld expands her repertoire of stories featuring social and emotional learning with a tale of baby turtles and enormous waves. After Nellie hatches alongside her many siblings, she's overwhelmed to see how far they'll have to travel to reach the ocean. Once they make it, the others dive happily into the surf, but Nellie takes one look at the pounding, terrifying waves and heads in the other direction. Each time Nellie thinks she has the situation under control (she tries to hide, run away, and rely on someone bigger and stronger), something comes along to change her mind. Scaling the nearby cliffs, she finds herself alone and lonely, but from her high vantage point, she realizes that the waves may be daunting, but there's more to the ocean than she initially thought; in fact, it's beautiful. Few young readers will blame Nellie for wanting to escape, and whether or not they pick up on the obvious messaging is less important than Nellie's own personal journey. Her attempts to avoid her troubles carry hints of beloved titles such as Ashley Spires'The Most Magnificent Thing (2014). The adorable, thick-lined digital art featuring a beguilingly expressive, large-headed, big-eyed, tiny turtle makes adept use of perspective, driving home the lesson. In this sweet story, scary things may remain scary, but pushing past them yields enormous rewards.(Picture book. 3-5)

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