Why read Rodney Was A Tortoise?

Book cover of Rodney Was A Tortoise

Book description

This comforting and gently humorous picture book about bereavement and the strength of friendship shows how a child overcomes the sadness of her beloved pet's death.

Bernadette and Rodney are the best of friends. Rodney's not so good at playing cards, but he's great at staring contests. His favorite food…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Rodney Was A Tortoise as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

E.B. Bartels

Author

I have always had a soft spot for turtles and tortoises (I currently have two pet red-foot tortoises, Terrence and Twyla) and so I love this book because it deals with the loss of a more unusual pet.

Lots of people have dogs and cats, so often the death of a canine or feline pet is easier for others to understand––but people get sad about all kinds of pets dying, everything from tortoises to tarantulas. I wish I’d had this picture book when my first pet tortoise, Aristotle, ran away when I was in middle school.

Even people I know…

From E.B.'s list on teaching kids about pet death.