Publishers Weekly
★ 01/16/2023
Long-distance swimmer Cox presents this fictionalized story that follows Yoshi, the loggerhead turtle who spent 20 years in a South African aquarium before swimming nearly 23,000 miles back to her native Australia. A straightforward narrative couches playful, lyrical text that details Yoshi’s hatching, reports on physical changes over time (“She was just the size of a smile”), and lists myriad creatures she likely encountered on land and sea (“a whale shark as big as a school bus”). Lines that visualize the journey (“Her body glowed in a blanket of sparkling water”) complement Jones’s delicately textured, digitally edited paintings, which portray sea life in muted hues and envision Yoshi’s diminutive form against a wide-open ocean. Several light-infused night scenes bestow a calming ambiance upon a succinctly told story that’s satisfying in its full-circle itinerary and its appreciation of the sea turtle’s innate “genius.” Human characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author’s note, archival photo of Yoshi, and map conclude. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)
From the Publisher
★ "A mesmerizing glimpse at the miracles of the natural world." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ “…A succinctly told story that’s satisfying in its full-circle itinerary and its appreciation of the sea turtle’s innate 'genius'.” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "There’s much to discuss about the interplay of instinct, perseverance, and luck in this fine book." —The Horn Book, starred review
"A brilliant tribute to a marvel of the natural world." —Booklist
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2022-10-26
This true story of a loggerhead turtle that has swum farther than any animal known to scientists is told by an American who has herself shattered countless records for long-distance swimming.
Cox follows the turtle from her birth on an Australian beach to the moment she was caught in a net, then rescued by a Japanese fisherman (who named her Yoshi, meaning “good luck”). The fisherman treated her wounds, fed her squid, and eventually took her to the Two Oceans Aquarium in South Africa. Yoshi stayed there for 20 years, but the curator, behaviorists, and veterinarian decided to return her to the ocean, training her for endurance then releasing her with a tracking device. That is how the world knows Yoshi traversed 22,998 miles to lay eggs on the Australian shore where her life began. Cox’s language is lovely, her descriptions helpful for young listeners. Imagining Yoshi’s early life, Cox writes that the hatchling is “just the size of a smile.” As the turtle grows, her bulk is compared to a cat, then a lion. In addition to luminous double-page spreads and delicate spot art, Jones employs stacked horizontal panels that cross the gutter to emphasize the passage of time as the swimmer progresses. Six blue circular vignettes depict the animal’s struggle to breathe when she is snagged in the net. Cox’s author’s note explains that though she speculated about some of Yoshi’s life, everything after her rescue is documented. Humans depicted are diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A mesmerizing glimpse at the miracles of the natural world. (photo, map) (Informational picture book. 6-8)
