Northern Lights Book Awards
Truman
Winner of the Animals/Pets category
Author: Jean Reidy
Illustrator: Lucy Ruth Cummins
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Truman, a peace-loving tortoise, lives in an apartment building with his human owner, Sarah. While the outside world is a mess of screeching cars, trucks, taxis, and the Number 11 southbound bus, Truman and Sarah prefer spending their days in pensive harmony. That is, until the day Truman watches Sarah board the Number 11 bus and vanishes for what seems like a thousand tortoise hours.
Unwavering in his devotion, he decides nothing will keep him from her, not even the terrifying vehicles below. He gathers up his courage to brave the vast unknown, but first he must find a way out of his tank.
In typical tortoise fashion, it takes him a long, long, long time to make his way through the apartment and to the front door. What awaits him on the other side will be sure to elicit some chuckles.
Truman is a touching tale about determination and the power of friendship, making it the perfect book to share on the first day of school or as a bedtime story.