  | Turtle of Michigan Author: Nye, Naomi Shihab | |
| Price: $21.88 | ||
Summary:
Eight-year-old Aref is excited to reunite with his father in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he will start a new school, and while Aref misses his grandfather, his Sidi, he knows that his home in Oman will always be waiting for him.
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (01/15/22)
School Library Journal (+) (04/01/22)
Booklist (03/01/22)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/04/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 04/01/2022 Gr 3–5—Aref Al-Amri has finally packed his suitcase and is journeying from Oman to Michigan in this charming follow-up to Nye's The Turtle of Oman. As it turns out, flying is thrilling for Aref, and though the journey is long, his new home in Ann Arbor, MI, offers plenty of new and exciting experiences. Aref is just as curious, insightful, and enthusiastic as he was in the previous book, and after a period of adjustment, he begins to feel quite at home. If only his beloved grandfather, Sidi, would come to visit, then everything would be perfect. Nye's imagery brings the snows and forests of Michigan to vivid life, and her characters nearly leap off the page with authenticity. Both fans of the previous book and new readers will surely relate to Aref's simultaneous enthusiasm for his new home and homesickness for Oman and Sidi. VERDICT A lovely first purchase celebrating the power of human connections.—Dana West - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
Booklist - 03/01/2022 This long-awaited follow-up to The Turtle of Oman (2014) reunites readers with an eight-year-old boy named Aref, who’s from Oman. Audiences finally learn what happens to Aref after he moves with his parents to the U.S. while they attend grad school. Aref’s beloved grandfather, Sidi, stays behind in Oman, and they miss each other deeply. This very gentle read captures Aref’s experiences in his new town of Ann Arbor, including attending his new, inclusive school. While the story is written in the third person, Aref’s notebook entries, sprinkled throughout, provide an intimate look into his thoughts and emotions. Set in a handwriting-like font, these lists and notes add to Aref’s precocious and humorous voice. This slower-paced story is driven by the characters and the discoveries they make about themselves and their surroundings. The included illustrations (final artwork not available) enhance the reading experience through intricate, small illustrations on the top and bottom of each page. Enjoyable as a standalone, this accessible read offers a comfortingly warm, joyful view of moving to a new country. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
