Review: Sweet T and the Turtle Team by Cat Michaels

BeachBoundBooks is pleased to be coordinating a Blog Tour for the beautiful children's book written by Cat Michaels and Illustrated by Irene A. Johns, Sweet T and the Turtle Team. The tour will run from July 12 - August 9, 2017.

 

Sweet T and the Turtle Team

by Cat Michaels

Illustrated by Irene A. Jahns

July 2017

2101 Ink

Children's Fiction

72 pages

Ages 6 to 11

It’s nesting season for loggerhead sea turtles on North Carolina's Gull Island. Nine-year old Tara (or Sweet T as her family sometimes calls her) is determined to see hatchlings make it safely from their nests to their ocean home.Summering on Gull Island with Great Aunt Mae could be tons of fun, but T is having a hard time making new friends with island children, let alone finding kids to help her monitor a sea turtle nest.There’s little sister Jenna, but Jenna is, well, little.  Fuzzy is around, too, but Jenna’s blue stuffy rabbit gets lost all the time.  Besides, a toy bunny can’t help protect turtle nests. Tara befriends Billy, a moody island child.  He teaches her skimboarding and shows her the best shelling spots. But Billy stomps away when she asks him to read the “Turtle Team Guide” and join her in saving baby sea turtles. What’s up with Billy?  He’s nice one minute and grumpy the next.  And why does he refuse to join T’s Turtle Team?  T can't figure him out. A tropical storm threatens Gull Island just as the sea turtle nest is ready to hatch. T must abandon the nest and prepare for bad weather.

• Will Sweet T and her friends keep safe from the storm?

• Will the sea turtle nest survive angry ocean waves?

• Will Billy reveal his secret?

Dive into adventure, fun and secrets on Gull Island with “Sweet T and the Turtle Team” to find out! “Sweet T and the Turtle Team” is the third book of the Sweet T Tales Series of chapter books for early and reluctant readers by Cat Michaels, MS., Ed.  With a glossary, comprehension quiz, sea turtle hatch photo gallery, and discussion questions, “Turtle Team” delivers powerful messages about protecting marine life while helping young readers empathize with children who struggle to read.

Pre-order Now ~ Available July 21, 2017

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MY TIDBITS

With a little adventure, a dash of heart and lovely illustrations, this book not only tells a tale but teaches a few things along the way.

Tara, her little sister and her mother are visiting her aunt on Gull Island--something Tara isn't completely thrilled about. Not only is her little sister constantly loosing her stuffed blue bunny, but a local boy, Billy, isn't exactly a friendly, easy person either. When Tara's mother needs extra volunteers to help baby turtles make it from their nests on the beach to the water, Tara stands at the ready. But none of it runs as smoothly as it could.

There is so much in this book. There's the main plot of Tara trying to get along on the island, not only with the baby turtles but with Billy and his problems. Sibling relations has a role as well as the relationship between kids and their parents. Then, there's also a message surrounding bullying and dyslexia. Add the information about baby turtles, a glossary with explanations for the short-cuts in texting as well as discussion questions to help kids talk about the story and gain a deeper understanding, and this is simply one packed book.

That said, there is never a boring moment. The story starts off quick and introduces several characters within the first sentences, but a few paragraphs later and all is explained. The writing is fitting for the intended audience and throws in extra vocabulary words along the way. Everything flows together nicely, although there were quite a few themes being attacked at the same time. My favorite part were the colorful illustrations. These were done with much love and dribbled into the story at all the right times. The telephone texts which appeared from Tara's older sister to her, brought the main points which had just occurred in the story back into focus, and offered a nice change of pace.

Kids who love learning something while diving into a gentler adventure are sure to enjoy this book. It's also great for classroom settings and home schoolers, thanks to all of the extra tidbits and various angles the book takes. Especially kids eight to ten will enjoy this read.

SNEAK PEEK

TRAILER

About the Author

Author, blogger CAT MICHAELS, M.S., Ed., has more than two decades of experience helping students from kindergarten to college with learning disabilities and Asperger’s syndrome.

Her chapter books and Sweet T Tales series for beginning readers tell of every day life with a twist of magic and mischief.  Cat’s books encourage young and reluctant readers to use their imagination and solve kid-sized dilemmas as they enjoy reading.

Cat lives in North Carolina with her family, where she enjoys digital photography and graphic design, creates pocket gardens, works out as often as she can, and writes.  

Website/Blog  |  Facebook |  Twitter  |  Pinterest  |  Instagram

Find Cat’s books on Amazon and iTunes

GIVEAWAY!!!

Prize: One winner will receive a $75 Amazon gift card or $75 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice Giveaway ends: August 9, 11:59 pm, 2017 Open to: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by the author, Cat Michaels and is hosted and managed by Stacie from BeachBoundBooks. If you have any additional questions feel free to send an email to stacie@BeachBoundBooks.com. a Rafflecopter giveaway