An engaging informational picture book offers a comprehensive introduction to turtles in all their singularity. The narrative begins, naturally, with “the wonderful shell” and other basics of turtle anatomy and turtle type before covering characteristics and behaviors both common and unusual. An appealing section on extremes shines a spotlight on turtles of remarkable size and speed, turtles with unusually long necks or oddly flat bodies (the aptly named Snake-necked Turtle and Pancake Tortoise, respectively), and even the smelliest species. Sy Montgomery’s respect and admiration for turtles is evident throughout, with ample space devoted to the “many talents” of turtles: their ability to learn complex tasks, their surprising athleticism, and their hunting skills. “Today, 61 percent of all turtle species are dangerously declining—or are already extinct in the wild.” Fortunately, the narrative wraps up on a positive note, with ten ways that humans can help protect and advocate for turtles. Detailed, realistic acrylic paintings on clean, white backgrounds spotlight many species throughout. (Ages 5-9)