Old Turtle and the Broken Truth

by Douglas Wood, Jon J. Muth (Illustrator)

Powerhouse team Douglas Wood and Jon J Muth present a sequel to Old Turtle , the award-winning wisdom tale of peace and love for the earth. Seekers of all ages have been inspired by the stirring message of Old Turtle , the beloved, award-winning wisdom tale of peace. Now Old Turtle returns in a timeless story about love, acceptance, and the nature of truth.Long ago, as truth descended onto earth, it split in one piece landing among the people and the other blazing through the sky. When the people discover the piece of truth, it gives them strength and happiness. But over time, it turns them arrogant and greedy. They do not share their truth with others, wars rage on, and the earth begins to suffer. Then a Little Girl eager for change journeys to find Old Turtle, seeking the precious piece of wisdom that will mend the people's broken truth, making it -- and them -- whole once again.Douglas Wood's stirring and eloquent fable, soulfully illustrated in luminous watercolor by Jon J Muth, offers readers of all ages inspiration, hope, and a healing vision of peace.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Spirituality, Inspirational, Religion, Young Adult

64 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2013

About the author

Composer, recording artist, wilderness guide, and self-taught naturalist-Douglas Wood is perhaps most widely known as the highly acclaimed author of OLD TURTLE, a 1993 ABBY Award winner and an International Reading Association Book of the Year. Author of several books for readers of all ages, Douglas says he is always seeking themes that are universally significant to both children and adults. His first book for Candlewick Press, GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH-winner of the Christopher Medal for "affirming the highest value of the human spirit"-quietly explores the theme of grief and healing while celebrating a human connection to the natural world and the enduring spirit of love. Douglas Wood kept in mind someone very special to his own life when writing GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH. "I feel I've been getting ready to write this book all my life, for it is about my wise and gentle hero, my Grandad. It's a prayer and a thank you, a walk in the woods, and a remembering smile; and it is for anyone who has ever had a woods to walk, a prayer to whisper, a hero to love."


Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a powerful message about love. Half truths are not the same as whole truths. This old turtle is wise and I love the art in this book. Worth checking out. You are loved.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, perhaps this isn't a Pagan children's book, but the lesson is in keeping with Pagan principles. It's a beautiful picture book for older kids--probably for kids starting around grade 3. It's a parable that points to the destructive character of monotheistic, our-way-is-the-only-way religion. The lesson of the book is that living in the world requires a reverence for nature and the ability to see ourselves in everyone and to see everyone in ourselves. It's a wonderful book for children. I will definitely buy a copy when I have my own kids.

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know I read this, and I remember feeling a bit disappointed by it, but I can't remember anything else.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations.

[Missy Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this

[Julie Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

When the truth fell from the sky, it was broken. One piece was rejected by the animals as having something missing, but the humans embraced it, because it said they were loved. The humans shared it with other humans who were similar to them, and declared that the love was only for them. The fight over the love and the truth led to ugliness and pain, until a little girl helped everyone understand that the message they'd been living by was not the entire message, and they needed its other half to fully understand divine love.

What I love about this book is its Pagan roots--or at least, its celebration of the divinity/sacredness of nature--and how without naming names, it points out the counterproductive aspects of organized religion. How only ugliness and pain will result from claims of exclusivity, and how acknowledgment of love is the real truth here. The illustrations are lovely too. It can come off as a bit trite, but at the same time, many books with a message for children do that. It's a good one for kids to understand the soul of religious/spiritual belief.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a Universalist message!

[Jaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“… it had been a very long journey, and those who take great journeys of the heart are changed.

The people did not recognize her.”

A beautiful short fable about the power of love and empathy. Interestingly, Douglas Wood is *not* Indigenous (I had to look it up) but the story is very reminiscent of traditional North American teachings — tellingly with the appearance of certain animals, such as Old Turtle, Crow, Coyote, and Bear. It would have been nice if Wood credited those influences somewhere rather than attempting to pass this off as entirely his own.

Regardless, a must read for children and adults alike.

[Jorgina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mix of fables stirred together to make a plea for world peace and love. An attempt at defining truth as relative and not definitive and only about love, tolerance, and acceptance regardless. It is a book for our times set in an ancient form giving it a timeless feel. Our time, because it reflects a secular worldview and dismisses adults (past) but glorifies the youth (future hope) a book of quiet rebellion.

If read to a child it warrants a discussion about truth, love, and tolerance.

The watercolor illustrations are beautiful.

[JT Olszewski]

I really liked this book and the message behind it that nature and all the people in it are beautiful, I think that this book relates well to the last one I read last week and that it is all about kindness, I did notice that this was about animals again which was the second largest amount of books written about when we did that class on Single stories which I thought was very interesting. I also really liked the artwork in this book and it even had a bit of foreshadowing on the back of the book.

[Judith M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful inspirational story, so significant now in our society.
There is a gift, a truth that fell from heaven for all men. But the truth became broken because the people did not recognize the truth.
The wise old turtle, with her wisdom explains what must happen in order for all to restore it!
Beautiful! If only people would realize the truth and it’s gift to man.

I read this to my grandchildren and explained it to them.
Maybe if children learn this early in life, the world would be a better place !

[Virginia Hertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Old Turtle And The Broken Truth is wonderful story with lots of metaphors for the human predicament. It teaches that there are many truths and that everyone has their own truth. Instead of fighting about who's truth is right all the time, we need to just accept-honor-explore these truths. If we do not there will never be peace.

The art is also beautiful and could be hung on a wall. I am buying a copy of this book for my class and home.

[Kurt Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm... a bit too deep for children, but a bit too childish for adults. If an adult read it for a child, the adult should get more out of it than the child, but I don't think the adult would read it for themselves. I wish I could give a separate rating (5 stars) for the watercolors, which were excellent, and apt for the text on the page of the book.

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An endearing story book with a message about peace, oneness, and love. It reflects Indigenous beliefs about the interconnectedness of life and the beauty that exists within nature. It reminds the reader to reflect on the small moments and to treasure all things equally.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

The water colors of Jon J. Muth are exquisite.

In “The Interfaith Alternative: Embracing Spiritual Diversity”
by Steve Greenebaum;
This book "Old Turtle ...." was listed as a book for children in understanding interfaith.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is not for a baby. The illustrations are beautiful.

The wise old turtle when there are questions from the animals, rocks, winds, waters, trees, birds and fish. This book lays a good foundation for conversations about God and spirituality.

[Daniel Luckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a leader in Scouting, I’m asked how to show Reverence without organized religion. As someone you grew up within Organized Religion, it’s hard for me to describe. This book, put the words where they needed to be to answer that question.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is for older elementary, maybe even middle school because it's pretty abstract.

[Marianna F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing, wonderful, beautiful,.... wow. I smiled at the end 😌

[Joe Bowen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for kids, simple, with engaging artwork. And a lovely message of inclusion, which was really the whole point all along.

[Reuben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story! A parable about love, peace, harmony, and releasing your ‘truths’ to allow others’ ‘truths’ to enter your world. Beautiful.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple yet profound read with a beautiful message. The illustrations are just as enjoyable as the story.

[Pam Parris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book, great message.

I would like to see every child have this book read to them. The message is so important, the art work is beautiful.

[Lara Bate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story about loving yourself as well as others (based on the premise of creating peace in the world). Great book for both kids and adults.

[Anne-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

You are Loved, and so are They

[Tiffany Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up since it had a turtle on the cover. While I didn't love the story the artwork was really pretty.

[Kat V · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s good but I didn’t think it was great. Bought it for my mom- she’s going to love it

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is one all we humans should read & live by. The Illustration/Watercolors is BRILLIANT.

[lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

ik this is a children’s book but i read it for english and it’s so adorable and i love the message

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Sunday Stories- Beautiful Story!