How the Turtle Cracked His Shell

Jul 17, 2026

This document tells the story of how the turtle cracked his shell. One autumn day, the turtle was conversing with birds who were preparing to fly south for the winter. The turtle, eager to join them, pleaded to be taken along. After initial hesitation, the birds agreed, instructing the turtle to hold onto a stick with his mouth while they carried him. The narrative follows their journey through the sky. The story is presented in English, with contributions from Joseph Bruchac (writer), Rosie McCormick (reteller), Gail McIntosh, and Barbara Gibson (illustrators), and the layout by SIL-PNG. It is also available as a 'Talking Book' downloadable from www.mytalkingbooks.org. The document is an educational resource, likely for young readers, with clear illustrations and simple language to convey the narrative.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryStory & Novel

FormatPDF

Pages19

Reading Time29 min

AccessFree to download

How the Turtle Cracked His Shell

The birds prepare to fly south

The turtle asks to join them

The birds agree to help

The journey through the sky

FAQs

What time of year does the story take place?

The story takes place in autumn, as indicated by the birds preparing for winter.

How do the birds help the turtle travel south?

The birds help the turtle by carrying him through the sky, suspended by a stick that the turtle holds in his mouth.

What is the main challenge or conflict in the story?

The main challenge is the turtle's desire to travel south for the winter and finding a way to do so with the birds, leading to the method of him being carried by a stick.

Jul 17, 2026

Uploaded by Clementine