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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
This is not a novel in verse, but it is written so poetically that sometimes it feels like a poem.
This is a love song to HOME, wherever that might be. Aref is leaving Oman for 3 years while his parents go to school in far away Michigan and this book is his last week in Oman, savoring everything he loves the best with his wonderful grandfather Sidi.
This is a love song to HOME, wherever that might be. Aref is leaving Oman for 3 years while his parents go to school in far away Michigan and this book is his last week in Oman, savoring everything he loves the best with his wonderful grandfather Sidi.
A sweet book. The visuals are so vivid that I could easily imagine a picture-book version. Another takeaway is to try dates and salty cheese on pita bread.
Aref has a week to pack and prepare before leaving his home in Oman. He will be traveling to Michigan where his parents will go to school to receive their doctorate degrees. In the week leading up to his departure, Aref spends time with Sidi, his grandfather, having adventures and creating memories to take with him to the United States.
This story has one of the sweetest relationships between a grandparent and a grandchild. I loved seeing all the different ways that Sidi provided Aref with comfort about leaving his home. Not only does this book show strong emotional bonds within a family, but it has many educational opportunities for the reader as well. I am very much looking forward to sharing this book with my fourth graders, and I'm even considering using this book for our next read aloud. Aref is fascinated by turtles, birds, and rocks, and the reader learns along with Aref. The geography and cultural references also make for fantastic springboards for research or just musings.
I highly recommend this book as one for an adult to read to a younger child. Young readers would enjoy this book on its own, but there is so much to be learned by discussing and sharing this book with children!
This story has one of the sweetest relationships between a grandparent and a grandchild. I loved seeing all the different ways that Sidi provided Aref with comfort about leaving his home. Not only does this book show strong emotional bonds within a family, but it has many educational opportunities for the reader as well. I am very much looking forward to sharing this book with my fourth graders, and I'm even considering using this book for our next read aloud. Aref is fascinated by turtles, birds, and rocks, and the reader learns along with Aref. The geography and cultural references also make for fantastic springboards for research or just musings.
I highly recommend this book as one for an adult to read to a younger child. Young readers would enjoy this book on its own, but there is so much to be learned by discussing and sharing this book with children!
There were times where the poet came through for me, some of the powerfully observant moments seemed to be a little out of character for the 11 year old narrator -- much more the author's own poetic perspective peeking through. But there were so many times where it was a very well done child's point of view... but maybe that's what being that age is actually about? It's been too long for me and I don't have any kids that age around me. Maybe they do bounce between simplicity and profundity and back again.
Anyway, it was quite lovely for me, having been around that age in an Arab country (Libya for me, MANY years ago), and it nudged me to hit google maps and add some actual geography and pictures to support what I was reading. I really loved the story, one of getting ready to leave, rather than a more common one of leaving and being a stranger in a new place. A unique and lovely perspective, sad, but with beautiful lessons from his grandfather.
Naomi Shihab Nye is a local author, and had a reading in our nearby bookstore, Bookwoman, for the sequel. So I had to read this one first before reading that one. I'm very glad I did.
Anyway, it was quite lovely for me, having been around that age in an Arab country (Libya for me, MANY years ago), and it nudged me to hit google maps and add some actual geography and pictures to support what I was reading. I really loved the story, one of getting ready to leave, rather than a more common one of leaving and being a stranger in a new place. A unique and lovely perspective, sad, but with beautiful lessons from his grandfather.
Naomi Shihab Nye is a local author, and had a reading in our nearby bookstore, Bookwoman, for the sequel. So I had to read this one first before reading that one. I'm very glad I did.
I read this one with the kiddo for his homeschool program. Originally I go into these sorts of novels with an open mind but not much of an expectation (a 10 yr old's sensibility is rather different than a nearly 50 yr old's most would agree). However, in this novel I found it rather intriguing to see the world I'm entirely unfamiliar with (Middle East, Muslim) through this young man's eyes. And, then, him seeing our American world through his. I was pleasantly surprised and engaged.
I love Nye's writing, and it's wonderful to hear Oman described through the eyes of a 7-year-old child who clearly loves his family, his home, & the land - especially his adventures with his grandfather in the nearby countryside & around town.
Librarians can give this book to avid readers who like to read about far-off lands, and enjoy realism, but it will not be enticing to reluctant readers. Parents reading aloud to children ages 5 to 9 will probably appreciate it the most, and because we don't have a lot of books about Oman, this meets a specific need beautifully. Families with a leaning toward nature, science, or travel will have the patience to hear the mild nature- and environment-based vignettes Alef and his grandfather experience one step at a time.
The premise that Alef & his mother are about to leave Oman to join his father in Michigan allows everyone in the family to be especially sweet & reminisce about past events, which lets people unfamiliar with Oman to get a little bit of perspective.
Finally, there is a strong focus on the gentle technique that Alef's grandfather Sidi employs to help Alef get himself ready to leave his school, his home, his land, and his grandfather for 3 years, while his parents are in graduate school - he collects memories & "stores" them in special rocks they find. This is not a novel idea, but for children reading this, or hearing it read aloud, it could be inspiration for coping with loss, with moving, or with starting something new or challenging. I didn't think it made the book didactic, but it was a clear focus that had little action driving it forward.
Overall, the book is more meditative than active, and reminded me of [b:Journey from Peppermint Street|86912|Journey from Peppermint Street|Meindert DeJong|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351925945s/86912.jpg|2013643], another 7-year-old-with-grandfather-journey, although DeJong's book had a more exciting finish.
Librarians can give this book to avid readers who like to read about far-off lands, and enjoy realism, but it will not be enticing to reluctant readers. Parents reading aloud to children ages 5 to 9 will probably appreciate it the most, and because we don't have a lot of books about Oman, this meets a specific need beautifully. Families with a leaning toward nature, science, or travel will have the patience to hear the mild nature- and environment-based vignettes Alef and his grandfather experience one step at a time.
The premise that Alef & his mother are about to leave Oman to join his father in Michigan allows everyone in the family to be especially sweet & reminisce about past events, which lets people unfamiliar with Oman to get a little bit of perspective.
Finally, there is a strong focus on the gentle technique that Alef's grandfather Sidi employs to help Alef get himself ready to leave his school, his home, his land, and his grandfather for 3 years, while his parents are in graduate school - he collects memories & "stores" them in special rocks they find. This is not a novel idea, but for children reading this, or hearing it read aloud, it could be inspiration for coping with loss, with moving, or with starting something new or challenging. I didn't think it made the book didactic, but it was a clear focus that had little action driving it forward.
Overall, the book is more meditative than active, and reminded me of [b:Journey from Peppermint Street|86912|Journey from Peppermint Street|Meindert DeJong|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1351925945s/86912.jpg|2013643], another 7-year-old-with-grandfather-journey, although DeJong's book had a more exciting finish.
Nice, easy read. Perfect for young kids facing a move.
The Turtle of Oman is a window into one boy's life. Aref's family is moving to the United States for three years so that his parents can complete their PhDs. He loves his home in Oman and does not want to go. The book follows Aref in his last week in Oman, as he visits with friends, packs his belongings, and spends special time with his Sidi (grandfather) appreciating all that is special about his homeland. Sidi reassures Ahref that migration is all around him in nature, that the turtles and butterflies go away and return, as will he.
A beautiful, soothing choice for children whose families are moving, for young readers who are interested in learning about life on the other side of the world, to witness a loving intergenerational relationship.
A beautiful, soothing choice for children whose families are moving, for young readers who are interested in learning about life on the other side of the world, to witness a loving intergenerational relationship.
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A touching, sweet read about a young boy’s love for his grandfather and his anxiety about leaving him behind and moving to America for 3 years so his parents can earn their doctorates. This was just what I needed to break out of a reading slump.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I love the relationship between Aref and Sidi and found myself taking pictures of some of the passages toward the end. Lovely messages about taking the time to be curious about the world and people around you, and to try be present to each moment.
It’s not a 5 in our household at this moment because my first grader’s appetite for the slower pace waned as we made our way through it (or maybe it just hit too close to home, given her tenderness over our own recent move). She liked the sequel, The Turtle of Michigan, better for bedtime read-alouds. Again, could have been our context; I wonder if she would have stuck with this one had we read it first and in the lead-up to our move.
Naomi Shihab Nye continues to be wonderful. And we have learned a lot about Oman from these books.
It’s not a 5 in our household at this moment because my first grader’s appetite for the slower pace waned as we made our way through it (or maybe it just hit too close to home, given her tenderness over our own recent move). She liked the sequel, The Turtle of Michigan, better for bedtime read-alouds. Again, could have been our context; I wonder if she would have stuck with this one had we read it first and in the lead-up to our move.
Naomi Shihab Nye continues to be wonderful. And we have learned a lot about Oman from these books.