Flirtle the Turtle Finds a Friend

S. Solo

Andrew Saltmarsh

Little Steps, 2023

32pp., pbk., RRP $A16.95

9781922358486

Flirtle lives near a swamp. and while she seems happy enough she hides her sadness well because would dearly like to have a friend. But days pass and no friends come by, and  she realises that she will need to be proactive and seek one for herself.  Sadly, for all that she plucks up courage to speak to the cat, the bear, and the monkey , none was quite the right friends for her as they didn’t want to do the things she liked and they left.  Until…

This is a tried and true theme about making friends for young readers, showing them that they can’t just sit around and wait for friends to come to them – sometimes you have to help yourself.  But it also raises the issue of whether friends have to like and do the same things, or whether there is scope for differences while still building the relationship.  Some might even like to speculate on the things that the cat, bear and monkey might like that Flirtle can’t do thus developing an awareness of the wants and needs of others.  

Written in rhyme and accompanied by bold illustrations, this is one that little ones will enjoy and which offers possibilities for lots of talk about making and maintaining friendships.