The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye introduces us to young Aref, who lives with his father and mother in Oman—except that soon, he won’t. His father is already in the U.S., getting things ready for Aref and his mother to join him in a week. This novel covers the course of that week. At first, Aref resists leaving, fearful of all that is coming. Only when his grandfather, Sidi, comes to take him camping does he find comfort in the change ahead. Perfectly capturing both the ordinary details and complicated emotions of moving from one country to another, especially for children, this story is written in elegant and simple prose with the occasional black-and-white illustration. In the back, find discussion questions and extension activities. 314 pages, softcover.
The Turtle of Oman by Naomi Shihab Nye
Product Overview
- A touching fictional narrative of a young boy moving from Oman to the U.S.
- Encapsulates both the small details and big emotions that come with moving to a new country
- Written in elegant, simple prose, with black-and-white spot art
- Discussion questions and extension activities included in the back
Description
Aref does not want to leave Oman. He does not want to leave his
elementary school, his friends, or his beloved grandfather, Sidi. He
does not want to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his parents will go
to graduate school. His mother is desperate for him to pack his
suitcase—but he refuses. Finally, she calls Sidi for help. But rather
than pack, Aref and Sidi go on a series of adventures. They visit the
camp of a thousand stars deep in the desert, they sleep on Sidi’s roof,
they fish in the Gulf of Oman and dream about going to India, they
travel to the nature reserve to watch the sea turtles. At each stop,
Sidi finds a small stone that he later slips into Aref’s
suitcase—mementos of home.
This accessible, exquisite novel shines with gentle humor and explores themes of moving, family, nature, and immigration. Naomi Shihab Nye has created what Kirkus called “a warm and humorous peek at the profound and mundane details of moving from one country to another—a perfect pick for kids on the move.” Features black-and-white spot art and decorations by Betsy Peterschmidt.
| Product Format: | Paperback |
|---|---|
| Grades: | 3-7 |
| Brand: | Greenwillow Books |
| Author: | Naomi Shihab Nye |
| ISBN: | 9780062019783 |
| Length in Inches: | 7.625 |
| Width in Inches: | 5.1875 |
| Height in Inches: | 0.625 |
| Weight in Pounds: | 0.45 |