The Box Turtle

by Vanessa Roeder

Terrance the turtle was born without a shell, so he uses a cardboard box instead. Terrance loves his box. It keeps him dry on soggy days, safe from snooping strangers, and is big enough to cozy up with a friend. But when another turtle points out that Terrance's shell is, well, weird, he begins to wonder whether there might be a better shell out there...

Eventually, and through much trial and error, Terrance learns that there's nothing wrong with being different--especially when it comes to being yourself.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Friendship, Storytime, Fiction, Self Esteem

40 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2020

About the author

Vanessa Roeder is an author and illustrator whose work includes Lucy and the String and The Box Turtle, a Parents Magazine Best Children's Book. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and three kids.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always had a soft spot for box turtles. My boys had some as pets through the years and I loved their gentle, inquisitive nature. When I saw this book cover I knew I would love the story inside and was I ever right. Terrance starts life without a shell of his own. His parents search high and low and find him a plain box. All is fine and good until he realizes other turtles think his shell is boring. He abandons the plain box and goes on the hunt for a new and unique shell. The many items he tries out are all wrong. One after the other. Some funny, some frightening, and one turns out to be very stinky. His little crab friend helps him find his good old box. Terrance makes the box his very own by decorating it with his friends. He is so much more than his shell. Be yourself!

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about self confidence. A little turtle is born without a shell. I know, in the real world he wouldn't stand a chance. But this is a fictional world and I love it!
His parents give him a cardboard box and it works perfectly. But another turtle teases him and makes him feel less, so he abandons his box and tries others out for size. After many failed attempts to fit in to others stereotype he puts his own flair onto his box and stands tall in his choices. His shell might not look like the other turtles but he knows he is "more than his shell."

Excellent book!

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check out the hilarious endpapers!

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Terrance, a turtle, is born without a shell, his parents improvise by dressing him in a cardboard box. It’s the perfect substitute—it keeps him out of the rain, gives him a place to hide, and it’s even big enough to invite a friend over. However, when another turtle calls his box weird, Terrance sets off to find a better shell … But what happens when he discovers he misses his box?

Author Vanessa Roeder has taken a basic exploration of self-confidence and shaped it into a downright charming story of a turtle and his box. With a simple, almost jaunty text, she takes Terrance on a journey that sees him testing out various new shells with hilarious consequences. Ultimately, through the help of a trusty friend, he realizes that maybe he was perfect just the way he was. Even so, Roeder elevates the story by adding one final twist on her way to a satisfying ending.

Roeder also beautifully translates this text into some adorable illustrations. By blending digital work with colored pencil and paint, she creates soft, attractive panels that are punctuated with humorously detailed full-pages. There’s a lot of love on display without ever feeling saccharine. And whether Terrance is wearing a mailbox or snuggling up with his hermit crab friend, he comes off as endearing as an illustrated turtle can.

With a clear message that doesn’t preach, fun characters, and illustrations that heighten the text, The Box Turtle is everything a picture book should be.

Note: I received a free ARC of this book through Edelweiss.

Review also posted at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about Terrance, a box turtle, finding the right shell. Being that Terrance is bullied in this story, this would be a great mentor text for showing children or students how to be upstanders*.
*An upstander is someone who supports an individual or who speaks up for someone who is being bullied.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, gently humorous, and charmingly creative story about accepting (and, eventually, embracing) our differences. Sure, the adult in me wondered how the cardboard box would withstand all those rainstorms -- but mostly I was just cheering for little Terrance as he withstood bullies and challenges and found the truest expression of his inner self.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrance the turtle hatched without a shell-- so his parents fastened him a box for a shell! When the other turtles think it's weird, Terrance becomes dismayed, and decides to look for a new one with the help of his friend, Hermit Crab, but nothing else works just quite as well. On his journey, Terrance learns there's more to him than just his shell, and that he doesn't need to fit in anyone else's box!

[Westminster Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet and endearing story about courage, perseverance and fitting in! The illustrations are whimsical and fun to peruse and add a lot to the story. I love the moral of this story as well. There are many wonderful life lessons to share and learn from. A fabulous read a loud as a family.

Find The Box Turtle at the Westminster Public Library today!

And if you are in search of new books to read, try our services, What Do I Read Next. Our library staff are standing by to create a personalized recommendation list for you!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

“This little box turtle was so much more than just his shell.”

You’ve got to meet Terrance! He’s a sweet hearted box turtle born without a shell. Terrance’s parents find and create a shell just for him though—a cardboard box that fits him perfectly. He loves his box until…he gets picked on for his different looking shell. So Terrance, with his BFF hermit crab at his side, sets off to find a new shell. From mail boxes to lunch boxes—nothing seems to fit his personality. Terrance soon realizes there is nothing better than being yourself. Living in your own shell! No matter what the haters say. He loves his box shell and wants it back!

What a sweet book and powerful message. I loved the ending! All the love slams into you at the end. Terrance’s journey to find and fight for his unique-ness took tears, hard work, support, lots of cute blushing, and courage. It takes huge courage and confidence to think outside the box. :)

Highly recommended.

p.s. Be sure to check out the Doctor Who shout out at the end.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a particularly unique message (acceptance of oneself, being unique, support from friends and family) but still an adorable execution. Tiny turtle bum! Cracked me up every time I saw his little pink cheeks! And I loved his friends the hermit crab and the raccoon. Might be a little long for my younger crowd, but my older storytime bunch would love it too. A great one for turtles, friends, or being unique (would be fun to pair with other "unique animal" stories, like Tacky the Penguin or Hilda Must Be Dancing).

[Shaye Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an adorable picture book about a sweet little turtle named Terrance who was born without a shell. Instead, he uses a cardboard box. However, after he’s teased about his box, he goes on a mission to find a new shell. In the end, he cycles back to his original “shell” as he learns that he perfect from the beginning. Great discussions will be had about opinions and social/peer pressure. The precious artwork was created with Prismacolor pencils, acrylic paint, and a boxful of digital tricks.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Abby Johnson]

A nominee for the 2021 Indiana Early Literacy Firefly Award, this cute picture book about a turtle born without a shell who creates his own shell is a sweet celebration of accepting individual differences. My favorite moment in the illustrations is when Terrance's hermit crab friend outgrows his shell and crawls into a bandaid box. :) Sweet, cute, and funny.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a pet peeve about the cartoon trope of turtles out of their shells. Their shells are part of their skeletons! It doesn't work that way! It's one thing when it's a gag, it's another thing when it's the main part of the story. So, I was not predisposed to liking this book. So take this with as many grains of salt as you like.

A turtle is born without a shell. So his parents give him a cardboard box. Which is fine for awhile, but when he's old enough to meet other kid turtles, they make fun of him. So he tries some other alternatives, none of which feel right. So he goes back to his box.

Also contains other cute animals.

It tries to be about accepting yourself. I think. But I've read other books with the same message which I like more.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrance the turtle is born without a shell. His parents give him a box to wear, and all is well until others make fun of it. Terrance tries other potential shells (with some fun results) but none of the shells really work for him, and so he returns to his box and makes it just like he wants.

There’s a lot more to this little book than just a simple story about a turtle. And it’s lots of fun, too.

[Meredith Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet picture book about trying on new identities, finding yourself, and learning to love who you are.

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but all I could think was how stinky the box shell would be after sitting in the garbage, and how easy it is to find another box. Maybe it's hard for turtles?

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great book for any child who worries about what others see. That is not important, it is what is on the inside that counts.

[Brindi Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soooo cute!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

So. Stinking. Cute.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I totally judged this book by its cover...because it's adorable! Look at the cute turtle! It's also a sweet story about embracing your differences. A little simplistic, but sweet. And the art is precious.

[Cecelia Costello · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Box Turtle by Vanessa Roeder
This book was a great read and a story that was truly heartwarming. In this book, a young turtle names Terrance is born without a shell. His parents love him all the same but want Terrance to be safe, so they give him a shell made from a box. Terrance loves his shell very much until one day another group of turtles make fun of his shell because its different. Throughout the entire book, Terrance goes on a journey to find a better shell but each one he tries on he doesn’t like. Eventually, a hermit crab that is friends with Terrance gives him his shell out of friendship. Terrance is so moved by the gesture that he no longer cares about what his other turtle “friends” think. Terrance goes back to get his box shell and sees that it has been ruined. Together the friends put the box back together so Terrance can wear it with pride. When the other turtles see his new shell, they make fun of him again, but this time Terrance does not mind. The little turtle now understands that he is more than just his shell. I thought the artwork was beautiful as well. I loved how the turtles’ shells were made of different color greens. I would like to read this book to a class of kindergarteners. I believe that this story will help them see that everyone is different on the outside but what matters most is on the inside. I think this story can help the young students be confident in their own skin and learn to love themselves regardless of outside influences.

[Nina Seal · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Box Turtle" By Vanessa Roeder is a book about a turtle who was born without a shell, unlike his turtle peers. Throughout the book terrance's parents encourage him to embrace his unique shell that is really a box. When a peer makes fun of his "big, bizarre" shell, he goes in search of another shell (Roeder pg. 7). As he is on search for a new shell he finds a variety of shells that seem to never suit him. Towards the end of the book, a hermit crab gives him his shell to show him that "he is so much more than a shell" (Roeder, pg. 23). Once he finds his old shell, the crab and a raccoon, who was temporarily living in the shell, help terrance to restore his shell and realize that he is more than his his covering. This story was easy to read, witty, and had a great message for loving the skin you are in. I would recommend this book to preschool/kindergarten students because of its vocabulary and would have it in my future classroom.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Box Turtle by Vanessa Roeder. PICTURE BOOK. Dial Books (Penguin Random House), 2020. $18. 9780735230507

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

A darling turtle is born with no shell. His parents find him a box that fits just right as his make-do shell. He loves this shell until other turtles start to comment on it and he goes on a search for a different shell. Eventually he finds his old box and fixes it up just right.

This book has a great message about looking different but not letting that difference change our attitude. This book has great characters that stick by the box turtle the entire time and the illustrations are simple and sweet and allow the reader plenty of time to read the pictures.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This turtle was born without a shell. Rather than make a fuss, the parents find a shell for him. It's a cardboard box that protects Terrance and lets him explore his world. Unfortunately, other turtles tease him so he tries to find a different shell. After a lot of trial and error with his friends, he decides the box is the perfect shell for him. They fix it up special and he ignores the other turtles.
Great book to share about believing in yourself and being true to who you are.
Don't miss the illustrations on the end pages.

[Moonkiszt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

Box turtle wasn't born with all the same parts and pieces as his parents, or most of the turtles he knows. He's different. Using a word play, the author patiently walks us through all the different ways Box Turtle works on "solving" his problem. . .which has everything to do with accepting and working with things as they are.

My group appreciated his close friends that helped him on his journey.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm pretty sure the author set out to create the most adorable thing possible.

[Pinky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrance finds out his perfect shell had been covering him from behind all along.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

When he was born, Terrance came out without a shell. So his parents gave him a box instead. Terrance loved his box shell. It fit just right, kept him dry, safe and protected. He could even share it with his best friend, a hermit crab. But when Terrance met some other turtles, they mocked his box. So he set out to find a better shell option. He tried all sorts of new “shell” like mail boxes, window boxes, a jack-in-the-box, a boom box, and even a treasure chest, but nothing worked. When his best friend offered up his own shell, Terrance realized that everyone was more than their shells. So he went back to his beloved box, which had seen some wear and tear itself. With some help from his friends and family, they transformed it into exactly what Terrance was looking for.

Told with plenty of humor, including some bare turtle bottoms, this picture book embraces being different. It also looks at how casual cruel statements can impact a person, until their self-esteem repairs enough to stand strong once again. The art is done with speech bubbles and some framing that makes it feel a bit like a graphic novel but with a softness and pastel colors that keep it very friendly for small children.

Full of resilience and tenacity, this picture book will have you thinking inside the box. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When is a box turtle not a box turtle? When he’s born without his ‘box’!
Can he truly be a box turtle without his box?
What’s a young, shell-less turtle to do?

Terrance, the shell-less box turtle, experiences a variety of emotions but perseveres through the ups and downs as he tries on a variety of possible shells. After discovering that each one has its own problems - a boom box was a little too loud; a pirate’s chest was a little too dangerous - he finally realizes that “...this little box turtle was so much more than his shell.”

Cartoonish illustrations contain enough detail for the reader to ‘see’ what is happening, but not so much detail that the reader is distracted. Some pages hold up to 4 small frames (that help build up the frantic pace), or maybe a double-page spread (that draws out the suspense). End pages show the various ‘boxes’ Terrence tries.

To introduce this story, the reader could try to name possible replacements for a turtle’s shell. Recommended for sharing 1:1, or small group read alouds to allow time to examine the illustrations and discuss Terrance’s options to try to find an appropriate shell. Using the end pages, a compare/contrast activity could follow the reading to further comprehension by telling the pros and cons of the various shells he tried.