Turtles occupy our cultural imagination in vivid ways. In Hindu, Chinese, Native American and Mesopotamian creation stories, they are depicted as cosmic beings that carry the world on their backs. Similarly, popular culture has an abundance of turtle characters: Crush, the surfer dude turtle in Finding Nemo who wields cool, laid-back charm, Grand Master Oogway the elderly Galápagos tortoise from Kung Fu Panda who embodies wisdom, patience and longevity, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a quartet of human-like warrior turtles who fight evil in New York City.

Yet a search for children’s literature on turtles in India throws up just a handful of results heavily skewed towards books seeking to build general marine awareness and a dominance of narratives rooted in non-fiction.

All tortoises are turtles,

but not all turtles are tortoises.

All terrapins are turtles,

but not all turtles are terrapins.

Some turtles are just turtles

says The World of Turtles and Crocodiles by Zai and Rom Whitaker, an authoritative book that offers detailed insights into the habitats, behaviours and breeding of Indian turtles and crocodiles. With nuggets of information like the note about a toy leatherback turtle dating back to the ancient Harappan civilisation, it introduces children to the long existence of this species and then goes on to poignantly ask why an animal that lived with the dinosaurs is now being threatened by civilised man. With information that goes beyond dry facts, this book makes an excellent resource for readers to understand the ecological importance of these species and the threats they face.

Riddle of the Ridley by wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Shekar Dattatri captures the striking spectacle of thousands of olive ridley sea turtles arriving on Odisha’s beaches for nesting through stunning photographs. The book makes an impassioned plea to keep these spaces safe for them. 

In Pankaj Sekhsaria and Vipin Sketchplore’s picture book Waiting for Turtles, the wonder of turtle nesting is presented through the eyes of young Samrat, guided by his mother Seema, a sea-turtle researcher. 

Kartik Shanker and Maya Ramaswamy’s picture book Turtle Story features a baby olive ridley turtle, who narrates an incredible tale of resilience in the face of natural predators and environmental challenges, encouraging young readers to appreciate marine life and the need for conservation. Meanwhile, Shilpa Ranade’s Tiny Turtle Wants a Friend introduces the rich and diverse marine ecosystem through a young turtle’s quest for companionship. 

Moonlight in the Sea, a picture book by Kartik Shanker and Prabha Mallya, follows Fatima, a young girl growing up on an idyllic island in Lakshadweep. Blending ecological education with lyrical storytelling, the book is a visually-captivating ode to ocean biodiversity and features a big green turtle among other undersea wonders.

A Case for Fiction

Fiction inspired by these wonderful, gentle creatures is still wanting. The only title I could find in a vast repository of Indian children’s literature was Mallika Ravikumar’s The Case of the Missing Turtles, the second book in a new series of legal mysteries where a young detective group M4 solve different cases. In this environmental adventure, the M4 set out to help a fisherman accused of turtle poaching. Along the way, they uncover a deeper conspiracy involving illegal wildlife trade and conflicts over fishing practices. In highlighting the challenges of conservation, the book presents unique insights into wildlife laws that would be enlightening for readers of all ages.

There are, nevertheless, many outstanding international titles on turtles. British author Hannah Gold’s Turtle Moon is an enthralling jungle adventure where young Silver Trevelon and her friends track down the stolen eggs of a leatherback turtle in Costa Rica’s biodiverse rainforest. 

Veteran British author Michael Morpurgo’s The Sandman and the Turtles is a masterful mix of  folklore and childhood wonder. In this magical adventure, a young boy discovers that his grandad’s stories of the Sandman, an old Russian sea captain, and the ancient turtles that have remained frozen for millennia on a beach aren’t mere fiction after all.  

Dr. Seuss’s Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, meanwhile, is a layered parable about power and authority narrated through a tale of a power-hungry turtle king who declares: ​“I’m ruler of all that I see… But I don’t see enough. That’s the trouble with me.” Using the turtle as a metaphor, it invites the youngest of readers to explore how unchecked ambition leads to exploitation, and how the desire to dominate can blind ethical considerations. 

Fiction is a much-needed link to build love, curiosity and awe for these creatures, and one hopes to see more creators in India spinning stories that speak up for these ancient mariners, fostering awareness, compassion and a sense of responsibility. 

Bibliography

1. The World of Turtles and Crocodiles (National Book Trust)
2. Riddle of the Ridley (Tulika)
3. Waiting for Turtles (Karadi Tales)
4. Turtle Story (Pratham Books)
5. Tiny Turtle Wants a Friend (Scholastic)
6. Moonlight in the Sea (Pratham Books)
7. The Case of the Missing Turtles (Talking Cub)
8. Turtle Moon (HarperCollins)
9. The Sandman and the Turtles (Farshore)
10. Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories (HarperCollins)
11. One Tiny Turtle (Candlewick)

About the author:

Archana Natraj is a transportation systems engineer who currently follows her passion for teaching, storytelling and reading. She runs the Facebook group Grey Matters and conducts creative writing courses and teen life skills workshops.