Old Turtle – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Old Turtle

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2007

86%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A philosophical fable where animals debate the nature of God—beautiful, thoughtful, and surprisingly deep for a picture book.

Old Turtle

book

2007

86%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A philosophical fable where animals debate the nature of God—beautiful, thoughtful, and surprisingly deep for a picture book.

4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

Old Turtle is one of those rare picture books that adults remember years later. It's not preachy, but it's definitely spiritual—a fable about how different perspectives can all hold truth, wrapped in a story about animals and nature.

The illustrations are stunning, the message is genuinely profound, and it's a great tool for families who want to talk about big questions without handing kids a theology textbook. That said, it's quiet and contemplative, so if your kid wants dinosaurs or fart jokes, this isn't the move.

It's also a bit of a Rorschach test: some families love its inclusive spirituality, others wish it were more explicitly Christian or more explicitly secular. But if you're looking for a book that invites wonder and teaches empathy through the lens of nature and interconnectedness, this is a gem.

Age Fit

Best for ages 5-10 as a read-aloud with discussion. Younger kids will enjoy the pictures and gentle tone, but the philosophical themes really land with early elementary kids who are starting to ask big questions. Older kids and adults appreciate it too, but it's a picture book format.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A gentle fable about interconnectedness, peace, and understanding that models cooperation and humility. The animals debate the nature of God without conflict or meanness, and Old Turtle's wisdom brings harmony. Emotionally healthy tone throughout with messages of kindness and unity.

Imaginative

The concept of animals debating philosophical questions is creative, and the allegorical structure invites kids to think abstractly about big ideas. The watercolor illustrations (by Cheng-Khee Chee) are reportedly beautiful and evocative. However, it's more contemplative than actively imaginative—it doesn't invite building or hands-on exploration, just quiet reflection.

Safe

Completely safe. No violence, scary content, or inappropriate themes. The spiritual content is inclusive and non-dogmatic—it explores the concept of God through nature and interconnectedness without pushing any specific religious doctrine. Parents from various faith backgrounds (or none) have praised its universality.

Enriching

This is a book with real philosophical and spiritual depth. It introduces kids to concepts like perspective-taking (each animal sees God differently), ecology, and the idea that truth can be multifaceted. It's a genuine conversation starter about big questions. The enrichment is strong, though it requires a parent or teacher to help younger kids unpack the metaphors.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Introduces big questions about spirituality, nature, and interconnectedness in an accessible, non-preachy way
Gorgeous watercolor illustrations that make abstract concepts feel concrete and beautiful
Teaches perspective-taking: each animal sees truth differently, and they're all kind of right
A genuine conversation starter about ecology, peace, and how we see the world—perfect for bedtime talks that go deeper
4.8 stars on Amazon and called a 'children's classic' by multiple reviewers

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What to Watch For

The spiritual content is inclusive, but it does talk about God—some secular families might find it too religious, some religious families might find it too vague
This is a slow, contemplative book, not a page-turner—kids who want action or humor will be bored
Younger kids (under 5) won't grasp the allegory without significant adult explanation

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think each animal saw God differently? What do you think God (or the world, or nature) looks like?"
"Old Turtle says God is 'all of these things.' What does that mean to you?"
"The animals were arguing at first. What changed when Old Turtle spoke?"
"Do you think people sometimes see the same thing in different ways, like the animals did?"

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