Exquisite greens, olive, chartreuse, lime, and soft yellows delineate young turtles swimming, hiding, and chasing one another from top to bottom of the turtle pond. Sharing space with fat goldfish, they hide in secret hollows and under wet rocks, as fascinated and diverse adults and children of all ages observe them. Unanswered questions will inspire future research: How do they breathe underwater? When they open their mouths are they speaking? Can they see and hear us? And why do they climb into a piled-up stack and follow each other in a train? Every double-page spread is illustrated in striking watercolors that depict the lush foliage of the plant life surrounding the pool. The wonder and excitement of seeing turtles as they live through all four seasons emphasizes the curiosity people feel about this ancient species. Back matter explains in a few simple paragraphs the necessity to preserve from extinction the 320 species of turtles alive today.

A young boy visits a man-made turtle pond inside a public garden during the four seasons of the year, observing the red-eared sliders and speculating about their behavior and activities. The graphite-pencil and watercolor illustrations bring readers up-close to the turtles in this unique habitat alongside humans. An author's note adds context to the picture book's spare, lyrical text.

The mysteries of turtles come to life.Descriptive, thought-provoking text and colorful, detailed watercolors combine to show the lives of members of a single species (the red-eared slider) that live inside some public gardens "in hidden corners / and secret hollows / beneath the wet rocks, / way at the bottom of turtle pond." From season to season, a child and an adult man observe from the background as the turtles swim about. The text neatly and naturally notes various behaviors (underwater breathing, eating, interacting with fish, slow exploration, basking in sunlight, stacking themselves into piles, poking their heads in and out of their shells, sleeping on rocks, dwelling near the bottom of the pond) in accessible language and with interesting specifics. The brief descriptions seem likely to lead to more questions than actual answers, presumably so that young scientists may investigate further themselves, making this a good choice to get readers and listeners thinking and observing. Endnotes provide additional information on the particular species, the general status of turtles worldwide, and the author's source of inspiration. The book's focal characters have dark hair and light skin.A poetic yet informative introduction to the lives of turtles that will motivate children to find out more. (Informational picture book. 4-8)