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Turtle of Oman, The

The Turtle of Oman shows what life is like for a child in modern-day Oman. Sidi tells his grandson Aref stories about what Oman was like before modernization, which shows what life was like years ago. The family relationships among Aref, his parents, and his grandfather are strong. The book is a sweet celebration of home and family.

Aref does not want to leave Oman. He does not want to leave his elementary school, his friends, or his beloved grandfather, Sidi. He does not want to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where his parents will go to graduate school. His mother is desperate for him to pack his suitcase—but he refuses. Finally, she calls Sidi for help. But rather than pack, Aref and Sidi go on a series of adventures. They visit the camp of a thousand stars deep in the desert, they sleep on Sidi’s roof, they fish in the Gulf of Oman and dream about going to India, they travel to the nature reserve to watch the sea turtles. At each stop, Sidi finds a small stone that he later slips into Aref’s suitcase—mementos of home.

This accessible, exquisite novel shines with gentle humor and explores themes of moving, family, nature, and immigration. Naomi Shihab Nye has created what Kirkus called “a warm and humorous peek at the profound and mundane details of moving from one country to another—a perfect pick for kids on the move.” Features black-and-white spot art and decorations by Betsy Peterschmidt.

Author	Naomi Shihab Nye
Product Code	LB2087
Ages	8-12
ISBN	9780062019783
Length	320 pages
Format	Softcover