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Old Turtle and the Broken Truth (Hardcover)
by Douglas Wood
| Category:
Humanity, Ages 4-8, Children's book |
| Market price: ¥ 198.00
MSL price:
¥ 178.00
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In Stock |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
Earth is full of suffering and war until one little girl seeks Old Turtle, who tells her about a "broken truth" and how mending it will help her community to understand the common bond of all humanity. |
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Author: Douglas Wood
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Pub. in: October, 2003
ISBN: 0439321093
Pages: 64
Measurements: 10.4 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
Origin of product: USA
Order code: BC00072
Other information: 1st edition
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- MSL Picks -
Truth falls from the sky and breaks in half. "One of the pieces blazed off through the night sky, /and the other fell to earth in the beautiful land." Several animals discard the broken piece because they feel that "there is something missing." When a human finds it, he is delighted, for it says, "You are loved." He reveals this truth to others "whose faces look like his." They begin to ignore the earth's beauty, to fear those who do not "share their truth," and to fight continually with those "others" who wish to possess it. Finally, a girl who embarks on a difficult journey to seek the advice of Old Turtle helps the people see that there is not just one truth, but "truths all around us, and within us" and that the second half of the broken truth is "And so are they." Muth's watercolor-and-ink illustrations powerfully reflect the moods evoked by the lyrical text. The humans are depicted as black, Giacometti-like silhouettes surrounded by darkness above and below. These same people form a rainbow-hued chain as they begin to see themselves in one another. The beautiful text and illustrations printed on wonderfully thick paper make a lovely package, and while the message, similar to Mem Fox's Feathers and Fools (Harcourt, 1996), is a difficult one for young children to grasp, it is sure to spark discussion among older students.
Target readers:
Kids aged 4-8
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Douglas Wood has been called Minnesota's "renaissance man" - author, artist, musician, naturalist, wilderness guide. As a writer of books for children and adults he has over one million copies in print, including the classics Old Turtle and Grandad's Prayers of the Earth. Among his many honors and awards have been the Christopher Medal, ABBY Award, International Reading Association Book of the Year, Minnesota Book Award, Midwest Publishers Association Book of the Year, Parent's Choice Award, Barnes and Noble Star of the North, and Story Telling World Award.
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In this profoundly moving fable, the earth & all its creatures are suffering, for the people will not share their Truth, which gives them happiness & power, with those who are different from them. Then one brave Little Girl seeks the wisdom of the ancient Old Turtle, who sees that the people's Truth is not a whole truth, but broken. Old Turtle shows the girl the missing part of the Truth, & the Little Girl returns with it to her people. Then the pieces are brought together, and the broken Truth is made whole at last: You are loved...and so are they. Then the people & the earth are healed.
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Shanshad (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-28 00:00>
Once in a land faraway, a truth fell from the sky and broke in half . . . and so begins the powerful fable told in lyrical words by Douglas Wood, accompanied by the evocative watercolor art of Jon J. Muth. Compared to many picture books, this volume appears subdued and perhaps more than a little daunting for book shoppers. But you know what they say about judging a book by its cover . . .
The story woven into these pages is straight forward enough. Mankind has got it wrong because they only have half the truth. Finding the broken truth that proclaims "You are loved" the people of this fable immediately recognize how special and precious that truth is. But, like so many things, the statement of truth becomes an issue who is loved and who is not. The story follows the progression of people as they fall further and further from the natural world and the simple truths all around them in pursuit of one half of a broken truth. Wars break out, and the world is a disillusioned, darkened place. Bring into this a young girl who sees differently, and goes on a quest to find the missing part of the truth. The conclusion isn't exactly surprising, given the tone of the text-that mankind is missing the point and needs to stop the fear, the hate and the misunderstanding that have become common currency. It's a good story, a powerful message, even if a bit simplistic. But it's not necessarily going to be a picture book for younger children. The tale at times becomes overlong, and the messages and themes are very mature ones-and may go over the heads of a young audience.
What really makes this book worthwhile, though, is the artwork. Brilliant watercolor images that are worthy of being framed and hung on the wall. Jon J. Muth subtly conveys the elegance and power of this story in his soft images alive with light and color. The pictures celebrate the connection to nature that is at the heart of the story. It was the artwork that sold me on this book, and it's what keeps me coming back to it. However, the maturity of the text is also reflected in the art. Images are impressionistic rather than clearly illustrated and this may be challenging for young readers to understand visually. It's not a bad idea to expose youngsters to these images, but you may want to simply discuss the pictures and what they think is happening rather than read the text.
A child ready for The Story of Jumping Mouse and Just So Stories will probably readily enjoy this story and the young heroine's quest to find the truth. Younger children may want to stick to retellings of Aesop’s fables, like The Tortoise and the Hare, or The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Then, when your child is older, this book will be waiting for them! |
Julie Jordan Scott (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-28 00:00>
I picked this book because I love turtles and I was intrigued about what on Earth (or anywhere, for that matter!) the Broken Truth might be....
Through Douglas Wood's narrative, I was taken to a land where every stone was a teacher and every breeze a language, where every lake was a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.....
And then in a brief moment, the sight of the Broken Truth is falling to the ground in an especially poignant watercolor by illustrator Jon Muth.
I found the unfolding story to be told gently and with great care. As one other reader noted, it echoes so clearly many of the challenges which are inherent in humankind today.
And then, on the other hand, I am very familiar with this place where every stone is a teacher, every breeze a language, every lake a mirror and every tree a ladder to the stars.... This book is very worthy read and very worthy of sharing with children and grown children everywhere.
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Robert Cannon (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-28 00:00>
In an age of religious extremism, where every little group is convinced that it is the holder of the Truth, and every other group is mortally and sinfully wrong, this book presents an opportunity for discussion with your children. It does not answer what The Truth is (well maybe minimally). It discusses what it means to fervently believe in a "broken truth" an incomplete truth, which in the end puts you at odds with everyone else. It is an excellent lead in to the discussion of how it could be that human war over Truth (as if Truth needs assistance from Humans and guns). |
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