Micki Bare titles

February 2011: Thurston T. Turtle Moves to Hubbleville, by Micki Bare, is an engaging story for young readers beginning to enjoy chapter books.  This richly descriptive story about Thurston’s experiences moving to a new town is particularly relevant for children moving to a new home.  Thurston’s story will enrich the discussion of seeing new places and meeting new friends.  Hearing and reading the story will enhance children’s developing vocabulary and both the words and the story provide wonderful opportunities for discussion about Thurston’s experiences, his new friends, the feelings of the characters and the words the author uses to tell the story.  The engaging illustrations enhance the story, however, this is not a picture book, and is best suited to children who are able to follow the story line as it is read to them or as they read the book independently.  I encourage both parents and teachers to share and discuss Thurston’s adventures with your children.

     —Linda J Scheer

         Primary Educator and Early Childhood Education Consultant, Aquebogue, NY

February 2011: Springtime has arrived in the quaint community of Hubbleville, where the animal residents watch the sunset from storefront benches. And so has an unexpected stranger. Mr. Possum, the writer, editor and publisher of the town’s only newspaper, who takes “pride in being the first one to know what was going on around town,” wants to get the scoop. The only trouble: Mr. Possum can’t seem to find the visitor.
    Thurston T. Turtle Moves to Hubbleville is a delightfully humorous story of a big-city turtle come to claim an old house he inherited from his uncle. Thurston is warmly welcomed by all of the townspeople, except for the frantic Mr. Possum who hurries about trying to find the newcomer and get the story. As Thurston goes about his business, the increasingly distraught and out-of-breath Mr. Possum just misses him at every turn. Whether enjoyed in one reading or spread out over a few bedtime stories, the engaging plot will keep children—and parents—turning the page, wanting to see what happens next.
    Thurston T. Turtle Moves to Hubbleville is the first children’s book written by author and syndicated columnist Micki Bare. The follow-up, Thurston T. Turtle and the Legend of the Lemonade, is scheduled for publication in 2012.