I love when a Jan Brett book comes across my desk, and this one is my favorite so far! Accompanied with the beautiful, detailed illustrations you've come to expect from Brett, this story tells the tale of a turtle who lives by the water and moves so slowly that moss begins to grow on her back, hence the name Mossy. With the moss there are ferns and flowers that make her a beautifully unique turtle. One day, she spots a boy turtle in the pond, but before they can speak, she is captured by a museum curator and her niece. While she is carefully cared for in the museum, the niece notices that Mossy is terribly unhappy there. It will take some clever thinking to get Mossy released, but will the plan work? A charming tale full of wonderful nature illustrations that is sure to be a well-loved addition in your library. 30 hardcover pages. Laura
Who will help Mossy return home to Lilypad Pond?
Mossy, an amazing turtle with a gorgeous garden growing on her shell, loses her freedom when Dr. Carolina, a biologist, takes her to live in her Edwardian museum. Visitors flock to see Mossy, but it is Dr. Carolina's niece, Tory, who notices how sad Mossy is living in a viewing pavilion. She misses the outdoors and her friend, Scoot.
Dr. Carolina finds a way to keep the spirit of Mossy alive at the museum. She invites Flora and Fauna to paint Mossy's portrait. Then she and Tory take Mossy home, where Scoot is waiting for her.
Jan Brett fans will pore over the colorful paintings of Lilypad Pond and lush borders displaying wildflowers, ferns, butterflies and birds in contrast to elegant spreads of the museum filled with visitors in stylish Edwardian dress and exquisite borders of shells, rocks, crystals and birds' eggs.
MOSSY gives readers a fascinating look at nature in the wild and on display in a natural history museum.
