Emma's Turtle

Inspired by the stories Emma reads to him, Turtle digs out of his pen and sets off to see faraway places. The backyard grass is longer than his legs so he thinks he must be in the jungle. He spies a tree stump and believes it's an elephant's leg. Just when he begins to worry that he's lost, Emma rescues him—and he discovers that he never left home. Undeterred, Turtle is grateful to "have the whole world here in my backyard," and plans to escape again tomorrow, this time to China.

Eve Bunting is the author of the Caldecott-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz. Among her many other titles are Hey Diddle Diddle, Will It Be a Baby Brother?, Mouse Island, Baby Can, My Red Balloon, My Special Day at Third Street School, and Girls A to Z. She lives in Pasadena, California.

Marsha Winborn is the illustrator of more than thirty-five books, including Grandma's Cat by Helen Ketteman, What's the Magic Word? by Kelly DiPucchio, and My Little Wagon by Alma Powell. Winborn is a regular contributor to Highlights magazine. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.