The Girl and the Turtle Pond

Maya spends her days watching the pond behind her school, where lily pads drift on green water and a turtle she calls Olive glides near the shore whenever she waves. She has memorized every turtle spot, from the flat rock used for sunning to the shady corner for napping and the shallow edge where tiny fish dart about. One morning, though, she notices a plastic cup floating near the reeds, along with a wrapper and a juice box, and the turtles seem to move more slowly, as if the water itself has grown heavy and sad.

Maya shares what she has seen with her cheerful classmate Leo, and together they bring the idea of a pond cleanup to their teacher, Ms. Rivera, who explains why healthy habitats matter for the turtles that breathe and swim there. Written by Jane MEADOW, this gentle story follows the class as they arrive with gloves and bags and work along the bank. Young readers can follow Maya's careful observation and teamwork in this tale, which can be read on Kids Tale Book.