Truman

by Jean Reidy, Lucy Ruth Cummins (Illustrator)

Overview

An NPR Favorite Book of 2019
A New York Times Best Children’s book of 2019
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2019
A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019

"An enchanting tale of bravery, heroism, and undying devotion." —The New York Times Book Review

After his best friend Sarah leaves for her first day of school, a tortoise named Truman goes on an adventure across the living room and learns to be brave in this thoughtful and heartwarming twist on a first experience story.

Truman the tortoise lives with his Sarah, high above the taxis and the trash trucks and the number eleven bus, which travels south. He never worries about the world below...until one day, when Sarah straps on a big backpack and does something Truman has never seen before. She boards the bus!

Truman waits for her to return.
He waits.
And waits.
And waits.
And when he can wait no longer, he knows what he must do.

Even if it seems...impossible!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781534416642
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	07/09/2019
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	153,211
Product dimensions:	9.20(w) x 10.20(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jean Reidy’s bestselling and award-winning picture books have earned their spots as favorites among readers and listeners of all ages and from all over the world. Her books include Truman and Sylvie, both illustrated by Lucy Ruth Cummins. She is a three-time winner of the Colorado Book Award, a Parents’ Choice Gold Award winner, a Charlotte Zolotow Honor winner, and recognized on “Best of” lists by School Library Journal, The New York Times, NPR, and Amazon. Jean writes from her home in Colorado where she lives right across the street from her neighborhood library...which she visits nearly every day. Visit her at JeanReidy.com.

Lucy Ruth Cummins is an author, illustrator, and art director of children’s books. She was happily paired with Jean Reidy for both Truman, which was named a New York Times Best Children’s Book of 2019, and Sylvie. She is also the author-illustrator of Stumpkin, Vampenguin, Dalmartian: A Mars Rover’s Story, Our Pool, and A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals. Lucy has swum in creeks, streams, gorges, rivers, swimming holes, pools (above- and in-ground), lakes (both Great and Finger), decorative fountains, and oceans. Her very favorite place to swim, however, is at her community pool in Brooklyn with her sons and her neighbors.

Editorial Reviews

Reidy and Cummins spin an enchanting tale of bravery, heroism and undying devotion…Cummins's delectable art captures the warm, witty heart of the story.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

04/22/2019

Truman’s a tortoise; he’s “small, the size of a donut—a small donut—and every bit as sweet.” A perceptive fellow, he senses change one morning as his owner Sarah eats “a big banana with her breakfast” and “strapped on a backpack SOOOOOO big, thirty-two small tortoises could ride along.” Specific quantities confer verisimilitude to this tale by Reidy (Pup 681): “Sarah placed seven green beans in Truman’s dish—two more than usual!” Then Sarah “kissed her finger and touched it to his shell and whispered, ‘Be brave,’ ” and boards the number 11 bus. Readers know she’s probably not gone forever, but Truman doesn’t, and he resolves to find his way down to the bus to retrieve her. Cummins (Stumpkin) contributes expressive, thick-lined drawings that delineate cozy scenes inside and out of Sarah’s city residence. The smallness of Truman’s world makes his expedition appropriately daunting—and funny—as he makes his way out of his tank and toward the door. Fortunately for Truman and his new fans, he doesn’t have to go too far to find his person. Observational humor, clear affection between Truman and Sarah, and bold adventure make this a memorable pet-owner love story. Ages 4–8. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Jean Reidy captures the vastness of the world and the courage required to sally forth...in this sweet tale of valor, affection, and enterprise."

August 2019 - The Wall Street Journal

"Truman’s seemingly small accomplishment will give readers and viewers cause to celebrate and appreciate the things they achieve every day, no matter the size."

June 2019 - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Utterly heartwarming ... Children will be eager to hear what their pets go through while they’re away at school, and the uplifting story of friendship and bravery will satisfy widely. Using gouache, brush marker, charcoal, and colored pencil, Cummins has rendered in Truman a character so indisputably adorable that, coupled with Reidy’s soulful characterization, he will have readers of all ages falling in love."

June 1, 2019 - Booklist

"An enchanting tale of bravery, heroism and undying devotion....Cummins's delectable art captures the warm, witty heart of the story."

August 18, 2019 - The New York Times Book Review

"At the heart of this story, paralleling a child’s own first journey into the unknown that is school, is the affectionate relationship between Sarah and Truman...and there’s much humor and drama in Truman’s exertions. Cummins’s relaxed-line, mixed-media illustrations bring the family’s cozy world to life, and the occasional use of a larger, bolder font emphasizes the heroics needed for Truman’s journey. This little creature has big courage, something to which small humans can relate."

September/October 2019 - The Horn Book

Utterly heartwarming ... Children will be eager to hear what their pets go through while they’re away at school, and the uplifting story of friendship and bravery will satisfy widely. Using gouache, brush marker, charcoal, and colored pencil, Cummins has rendered in Truman a character so indisputably adorable that, coupled with Reidy’s soulful characterization, he will have readers of all ages falling in love."

June 1, 2019 - Booklist

★ 07/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—"Truman was small, the size of a donut—a small donut—and every bit as sweet" accurately describes a turtle who has a very close relationship with his Sarah. The tiny reptile knows something's up when Sarah gives him extra green beans, buttons up a brand new sweater, takes a large backpack and leaves the apartment. Though she's left him before, he's unsettled by the activities of the morning, especially when he sees her through the window boarding a city bus. After waiting "a thousand hours," and she still hasn't returned, he makes the decision to go after her. His plans on how to get out of his aquarium, leave the apartment and board a bus make for an entertaining tale of love and (temporary) loss. Charming and humorous illustrations were created using gouache, colored pencil, charcoal and brush marker and finished digitally. Tiny Truman is endearing and his adoration, concern, and determination are reflected on his little face. VERDICT A heartwarming tale of devotion that will be enjoyed by children and their adults.—Maryann H. Owen, Oak Creek Public Library, WI

School Library Journal

★ 2019-04-14
A tiny tortoise discovers just how brave he is when his girl unexpectedly takes a bus headed away from home.

Truman, like his girl, Sarah, is quiet, "peaceful and pensive," unlike the busy, noisy city outside their building's window. In just the first few spreads, Reidy and Cummins manage to capture the close relationship between the girl and her pet, so it's understandable that Truman should worry when he adds up the day's mysterious clues: a big backpack, a large banana, a bow in Sarah's hair, extra green beans in Truman's dish, and, especially, Sarah boarding the No. 11 bus. He's so worried that he decides to go after her, a daunting feat for a tortoise the size of a small doughnut. Cummins' gouache, brush marker, charcoal, colored pencil, and digital illustrations marvelously convey both the big picture of Truman's navigation of the house and his tortoise's-eye view of things. And the ending, when Sarah arrives home in time to scoop him up before he slips under the front door, stuttering her amazement at his brave feats, is just right. Sarah and her mother have pale skin and straight, black hair; other city dwellers are diverse. Peaceful and pensive like Truman himself, this book charms; there's just something uplifting and wonderful about the whole package.

Never underestimate the feats an animal will brave in order to be reunited with their loved ones. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews