Slowly But Surely

	The Turtle and the Monkey by Paul Galdone Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Turtle needs Monkey's help in getting the banana tree out of the river, but she's sorry later when greedy Monkey demands more than his share of the fruit. Note: Artfelt has a The Turtle and the Monkey felt puppet set.

Song

My Turtle

This is my turtle
[Make fist and extend thumb.]
He lives in a shell
[Hide thumb.]
He likes his home very well
He pokes his head out when he wants to eat
[Extend thumb.]
And pulls it back when he wants to sleep
[Hide thumb.]

	Yummers! by James Marshall Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Eugene Turtle takes Emily Pig on a long walk so she'll lose weight, but the two end up stopping every few minutes for a snack.

Flannel Board

Five Little Turtles

Five little turtles went out to play,
Over the hill and far away.
Their mama called "Come back, back, back!"
Four little turtles came crawling back.

Four little turtles went out to play,
Over the hill and far away.
Their mama called "Come back, back, back!"
Three little turtles came crawling back.

Three little turtles went out to play,
Over the hill and far away.
Their mama called "Come back, back, back!"
Two little turtles came crawling back.

Two little turtles went out to play,
Over the hill and far away.
Their mama called "Come back, back, back!"
One little turtle came crawling back.

One little turtle went out to play,
Over the hill and far away.
Their papa called "Come back, back, back!"
And five little turtles came crawling back.

	The Foolish Tortoise by Richard Buckley Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: A tortoise realizes the need for a shell after several scary encounters.

Song

Little Turtle

There was a little turtle,
[Make small circle with hands.]
He lived in a box,
[Make a box with both hands.]
He swam in a puddle,
[Wriggle hands.]
And climbed on the rocks.
[Climb fingers of one hand up over the other.]
He snapped at a mosquito.
[Clap hands.]
He snapped at a flea.
[Clap hands.]
He snapped at a minnow.
[Clap hands.]
He snapped at me.
[Point at self.]
He caught the mosquito.
[Hold hand up, palm forward; quickly bend fingers shut.]
He caught the flea.
[Repeat.]
He caught the minnow.
[Repeat.]
But he didn't catch me.
[Bend fingers only half-way shut.]

	The Turtle and the Moon by Melissa Bay Mathis Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: A lonely turtle makes friends with the moon.

Song

Two Old Turtles

Two old turtles,
Going for a walk,
[Hold out two clenched fists with thumbs sticking out and move forward.]
"Good morning", said one,
"Shall we have a little talk?"
[Wiggle one thumb.]
"Yes," said the other,
"I do enjoy a chat"
[Wiggle other thumb.]
So they walked along together
With a natter, natter, nat!
[Hold out two clenched fists with thumbs sticking out and move forward.]

	The Tortoise and the Hare by Janet Stevens Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Classic Aesop fable as illustrated by Janet Stevens.

Films

	In the Small Small Pond by Denise Fleming Age Level: PreK-2
Synopsis: Illustrations and rhyming text describe the activities of animals living in and near a small pond as spring progresses to autumn.

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More Books to Read On Your Own

Yertle the Turtle
by Dr. Seuss
Age Level: Preschool and up
Synopsis: Yertle's story leads off with his attempt to build a bigger kingdom on the backs of his loyal subjects (literally). King of everything he can see, Yertle orders his turtles to stack up under him to build a towering throne. ("He made each turtle stand on another one's back and he piled them all up in a nine-turtle stack.") But a plain little turtle named Mack--stuck at the bottom--decides he's had enough. ("I know up on top you are seeing great sights, but down on the bottom we, too, should have rights!")

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