The Box Turtle

An irresistibly cute story about finding the confidence to be yourself, starring a turtle in search of the perfect shell.

Terrance the turtle was born without a shell, so he uses a cardboard box instead. Terrance loves his box. It keeps him dry on soggy days, safe from snooping strangers, and is big enough to cozy up with a friend. But when another turtle points out that Terrance's shell is, well, weird, he begins to wonder whether there might be a better shell out there...

Eventually, and through much trial and error, Terrance learns that there's nothing wrong with being different--especially when it comes to being yourself.Parents. Best Children’s Books of 2020

"In Roeder’s skillful hands, the little box turtle offers an inarguable message about the power of friendship and the importance of working with what one has." —Publishers Weekly

"Roeder renders an adorable, rosy-cheeked (all four cheeks, when he’s going about shell-free) Terrance in colorful pencil and acrylics, bringing the cute along with plenty of laughs . . . A sweet, affirming message brings things together in the end." —Booklist

"Shelled or not, though, Terrance is an appealing figure, with gentle lines, a soft green color, and a cute little booty. Terrance’s makeover of his box may inspire youngsters to want to create a 'shell' for themselves, so have a few cardboard boxes and markers on hand for crafty turtle enthusiasts." —BCCB

"This suggested general purchase supports social-emotional learning with confidence building through awareness of the character’s uniqueness and ability to think 'out of the box.'" —School Library JournalVanessa Roeder is an author and illustrator whose work has been featured in Highlights magazine and on Apartment Therapy. She lives with her family in Austin, Texas.