SUMMARY: Bartleby is a pet turtle that is abandoned by his boy in the pond at the edge of the wood behind the house. When his boy does not return, Bartleby must learn to catch his own food, make friends with the other creatures that live in the pond, and to avoid the dangers of the Claw, the Paw, and the Jaw. However, there is a new danger in the pond, an alligator, named Seezer, from the Mighty Mississippi, who has agreed not to eat Bartleby who in turn has agreed to show the alligator how to return to the river in which he was born. As Bartleby figures out where the river is, he is also starting to feel the draw of the Mighty Mississippi where other red-eared turtles like him live. Can he trust his instincts to find the way to the river, but more importantly can he trust the alligator as a traveling companion?

REVIEW: I started with the second book in this series -- Bartleby of the Big Bad Bayou. I enjoyed reading about the turtle Bartleby. He is very kind, considerate, and loyal friend. Bartleby is also very cleaver and gets out of many dangers by using his head, which reminds me of the character, Brer Rabbit. I like the second story better, whether that is because I read it first, or because it was a better story, I'm not sure.

Favorite Parts: Samples of Zip's method of speech. Read Aloud chapters -- 5 and 25.

Curriculum: 1) Discuss pond life as well as the food chain for woodland animals. 2) There is also a chance to discuss rhyming with Zip's method of speech. 3) Read aloud the tale of Brer Rabbis and the briar patch. Compare the cunning of Brer Rabbit to the cunning of Bartleby to get out of danger. ( )

I started with the second book in this series -- Bartleby of the Big Bad Bayou. I enjoyed reading about the turtle Bartleby. He is very kind, considerate, and loyal friend. Bartleby is also very cleaver and gets out of many dangers by using his head, which reminds me of the character, Brer Rabbit. I like the second story better, whether that is because I read it first, or because it was a better story, I'm not sure. Favorite Parts: Samples of Zip's method of speech. Read Aloud chapters -- 5 and 25. Curriculum: This book can be used to discuss pond life as well as the food chain for woodland animals. There is also a chance to discuss rhyming with Zip's method of speech. Read aloud the tale of Brer Rabbis and the briar patch. Compare the cunning of Brer Rabbit to the cunning of Bartleby to get out of danger. ( )