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Tiny Thinkers: Charlie and the Tortoise
As with all Tiny Thinkers, Charlie grows up to be a famous, real-life scientist! Read about his adventure to see how it all happened!
- GenresScience
40 pages, Hardcover
Published January 30, 2016
38 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 30, 2024
Although I do to a point grudgingly understand that author M.J. Mouton wants with Charlie and the Tortoise to introduce Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution to young children, sorry, but to and for me, Charlie and the Tortoise actually is pretty much and infuriatingly a total and sad epic failure and in fact also makes use of a major fantasy and annoyingly grating falsehood. For the author's presented (fictional) storyline in Charlie and the Tortoise basically takes Charles Darwin and sends him as a very young boy on seemingly a solo mission to the Galapagos Islands (and has a talking glasses wearing tortoise appear for good measure, with said tortoise then also being the "person" teaching the young Charlie Darwin about the theory of evolution, triple yuck and sigh).
And no indeed, I for one cannot and will not even remotely accept this kind of groan-worthy authorial and narrational reimagining as in any way either scientifically or historically sound. For since Charles Darwin was an adult when he went on his famous voyages as naturalist on the H.M.S. Beagle, in my humble opinion, ANY children's books on Charles Darwin (and this also and definitely should equally pertain to picture books geared towards the very young) must (in my opinion) at least keep Darwin as an adult (and not render him like M.J. Mouton does in Charlie and the Tortoise into a young child when describing Darwin’s voyages on the Beagle, his discoveries, his considerations of survival of the fittest, as this is not only historically, factually untrue, it is to and for me personally and academically, intellectually also a total fairy tale and fantasy and as such as much a myth so to speak as the story of creation found in the Bible, not to mention a huge insult to children's intelligences and to children in general).
Combined with the fact that I have also found Jezreel S. Cueva's accompanying illustrations aesthetically much too cutesy, too cartoon like and rather offensively silly (at least to and for my own personal tastes) I can and will only consider a one star ranking at best for Charlie and the Tortoise and absolutely do NOT recommend this book in ANY manner as a good and above all a scientifically and actually more to the point a historically accurate, useful and acceptable introduction to both Charles Darwin the man, the naturalist and to his theory of evolution (and with especially the entire execution of how young "Charlie" learns about evolution via a talking Galapagos tortoise being so cringeworthy that I almost want to scream and growl with both anger and utter frustration that children are sometimes approached by authors as potential morons).
And no indeed, I for one cannot and will not even remotely accept this kind of groan-worthy authorial and narrational reimagining as in any way either scientifically or historically sound. For since Charles Darwin was an adult when he went on his famous voyages as naturalist on the H.M.S. Beagle, in my humble opinion, ANY children's books on Charles Darwin (and this also and definitely should equally pertain to picture books geared towards the very young) must (in my opinion) at least keep Darwin as an adult (and not render him like M.J. Mouton does in Charlie and the Tortoise into a young child when describing Darwin’s voyages on the Beagle, his discoveries, his considerations of survival of the fittest, as this is not only historically, factually untrue, it is to and for me personally and academically, intellectually also a total fairy tale and fantasy and as such as much a myth so to speak as the story of creation found in the Bible, not to mention a huge insult to children's intelligences and to children in general).
Combined with the fact that I have also found Jezreel S. Cueva's accompanying illustrations aesthetically much too cutesy, too cartoon like and rather offensively silly (at least to and for my own personal tastes) I can and will only consider a one star ranking at best for Charlie and the Tortoise and absolutely do NOT recommend this book in ANY manner as a good and above all a scientifically and actually more to the point a historically accurate, useful and acceptable introduction to both Charles Darwin the man, the naturalist and to his theory of evolution (and with especially the entire execution of how young "Charlie" learns about evolution via a talking Galapagos tortoise being so cringeworthy that I almost want to scream and growl with both anger and utter frustration that children are sometimes approached by authors as potential morons).
November 20, 2018
Didn't work for me; to call Darwin "Charlie," to have a talking tortoise just trivializes it too much. I thought that the explanation of the finches could be a little confusing to readers: "... a softer beak is much smarter. Maybe this island has bugs better at hiding, so the birds eat the grains they can get without trying." Showing him as a child on his own didn't make sense either.
August 20, 2018
A captivating, fun and curiosity invoking book about the adventurous life of Charles Darwin as a little child - Charlie. A good introduction to science through curiosity and adventure. The last page "Learn about Charlie" outlines information about Charles Darwin therefore introducing the reader to the scientist Charles Darwin and his life.
The illustrations and the writing font are beautiful.
The illustrations and the writing font are beautiful.
February 15, 2016
This is a science based picture book series and this is the first one we've purchased. My son did pretty well sitting through the book but at this age mostly enjoyed pointing and naming all the things he knows versus listening to the story. We look forward to the discussion this book will lead to as he grows!
June 13, 2016
An intelligent, fun, and beautifully illustrated picture book describing the life and work of Charles Darwin. For the book, Charles is portrayed by his younger self, "Charlie." I really like this book because it introduces adventure and science to young children through the life of one of the most important and celebrated 19th Century scientists. Two thumbs up! ~The Librarian Uncle
April 15, 2017
Excellent..a must read
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews