| Audio | Visual |
|---|---|
| How the Turtle Cracked Its Shell As told by Myrna Estes. Illustrated by Annette Frei. |
An illustration shows a big turtle. It has a honeycomb-shaped pattern of cracks on its shell. |
| At the beginning of time, when the world was new, the first turtle appeared. He had a bright, shiny, smooth, round shell very different from the cracked, dry shells we see on turtles today. If you could look into his shell, you would see your own reflection there, smiling back at you. |
The turtle stands in a pond near two squirrels. The sun is shining above him. |
| Turtle liked his shiny shell, but not as much as he loved the sound of his own voice.
He learned the languages of all other animals so he could talk to any animal that would listen.
That's how he became friends with the birds.
The more time Turtle spent with the birds, watching them fly about, the more he longed to join them. He made up a little song and sang it over and over: A smooth and shiny shell have I but my dearest wish would be to fly. |
Image left: The turtle imagines himself flying through the sky. Image right: The turtle talks with many animals. A bird stands on his shell. |
| One autumn day, Turtle went out looking for something to eat.
He looked high and low, but couldn't find any food.
You see, Winter was coming to visit, and all the food had gone to sleep. "Oh, what will I do?" cried Turtle. "I'm going to starve!" A chilly wind crossed his face. He pulled his head and legs into his shell to protect himself. "Oh, what will I do? I'm going to freeze!" |
Image left: A cloud blows wind through the sky. It carries an autumn leaf. The turtle is on the ground below. Image right: The turtle is curled up in his shell as the wind blows around it. |
| Just then Turtle heard the birds chirping from a tree branch above him.
He poked out his head and shouted to his friends, "Birds, what will we do? There's no food and it's getting cold!" "We're flying south for Winter's visit," they answered. "It is warm and sunny in the south, and there is always plenty to eat." Turtle sang: A smooth and shiny shell have I but my dearest wish would be to fly. And then he added a verse: South is where I want to go Far from the icy wind and snow. The birds replied, "You can't fly. You don't have wings!" Turtle was very upset and cried, "Please dear friends, don't leave me to freeze and starve!" |
The turtle talks to two birds. He is near his pond. The birds are high up on a tree branch. |
| The birds took pity on him.
Two flew to the ground, picked up a strong stick with their claws and carried it to him. The birds said, "We will carry you south, but listen very carefully. You must promise to do exactly as we say! We will each hold an end of this stick. You will hold the middle with your mouth. We know how much you love to talk, but whatever you do, do not open your mouth. You will fall down, down, down, until you hit the ground!" Turtle promised, singing gleefully: Don't you worry, I'll hold on tight I'm ready to take my first flight. |
The turtle looks up as two birds carry the stick to him. |
| The birds flapped their wings and flew up, up, up, into the sky.
Turtle held on tightly with his mouth, just as he promised.
He loved flying!
There was so much to see. Before long he had begun to wonder, "What is the name of that lake below us?" and "How much longer until we get there?" He wanted to ask the birds his questions, but he couldn't talk with his mouth closed around the stick. He blinked his eyes... but the birds just kept on flying. He waved his legs... but the birds just kept on flying. He tried mumbling... but the birds just kept on flying. |
Image left: Wind blows high above an open valley. Image right: The turtle waves his arms as he holds tightly to the stick with his mouth. |
| Finally, Turtle couldn't take it anymore. He opened his mouth and said, "Why don't you pay attention to me...?!" That was all the birds heard, because as soon as he opened his mouth to speak, he let go of the stick and began to fall, down, down, down. He was so frightened that he pulled his head and legs into his shell to protect himself. |
The turtle begins to fall. The birds continue carrying the stick into the distance. |
| When Turtle hit the ground, his shell cracked. | The turtle lies on his back. The ground is cracked beneath him. |
| Turtle felt tired and achy, but knew he was lucky to be alive. The birds flew down to see what had happened to their friend. They were relieved to find him alive, and asked if he would like to try again. Turtle sang: No friends, the sky is not for me. In a muddy pond is where I should be. Turtle swam to the bottom of a nearby pond, dug himself into the mud, and soon fell asleep. He slept all the way through Winter's visit. |
Image left: The turtle stands next to the pond, looking up. Image right: The turtle is now below the water. Fish swim above him in the pond. |
| Now you know why many turtles have cracked shells to this day. THE END |
Many turtles walk on the grass below the shining sun. Each turtle has a different pattern and color on its shell. |