Review of Turtle Knows Your Name

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bryan, Ashley, retold and ill.. 1989. TURTLE KNOWS YOUR NAME. New York, NY: Macmillan. ISBN 0689717288

PLOT SUMMARY
TURTLE KNOWS YOUR NAME is the retelling of a West Indies folktale. In this version a young boy is learning to say his name, UPSILIMANA TUMPALERADO, and his grandmother is trying to teach him. She does not give up and eventually takes him to the beach where her own grandmother had taken her to learn her own name. As grandmother and UPSILIMANA TUMPALERADO dance and sing, he learns to say his name. They did not notice that turtle was listening. he listened, swam to the bottom of the sea and spelled the name on the sand with shells. Later when UPSILIMANA TUMPALERADO is playing with friends in the village, they cannot say his name so they call him Long Name. His grandmother tells him that it is a long name, but not the longest. One day when he decides to play with all the animals, he finds that none of them can say his name, either. Until he runs into turtle and discoveres that he knows his name! He very excited and gets home in time to tell his grandmother over dinner about his discovery. She reminds him that if he wants dessert he will have to tell her what her name is. At this point, he runs around to the villagers asking if they know her name. none of them do. The animals also cannot help him and then he remembers that turtle knew his name so he goes to turtle and asks what his grandmother's name is. Indeed, turtle does know her name and he eventually tells UPSILIMANA TUMPALERADO who in turn goes home to shre the news with grandmother and have his dessert.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This story has a sing-songy feel to it with certain phrases being repeated in a song quality. The repeated names, questions, and songs from the villagers add to the folktale. The art work is beautifully colorful and somewhat geometric. the bright colors and patterns reinforce the feel of the island culture this story is set in. Children should enjoy the lively pace of the text and bright art to make this a favorite book.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: "The handsome and loving black grandmother and her grandson inhabit a radiant, and tropical world and should bring delight to young children and storytellers, who will recognize their proud and loving spirits, and will enjoy chanting the very long names over and over again."

PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY review: "The festive paintings are a visual treat, complementing the text with jewel-like colors and fluid lines."

CONNECTIONS

• An excellent candidate for reader's theater, puppetry, or storytelling . Focusing on the song qualities in this tale will engage children and puppets will also give children a place in the story.
• Look at other books where turtles are the main character, and find similarities.
• Find books with similar chanting, rhyming text.
• The following books with stories from the West Indies are another connection:

SanSouci, Robert D. THE FAITHFUL FRIEND ISBN 0027861317

Godard, Alex. MAMA, ACROSS THE SEA ISBN0805061614

San Souci, Robert D. THE HOUSE IN THE SKY: A BAHAMIAN FOLKTALE ISBN 0803712855