Except Antarctica

by Todd Sturgell

Overview

"Delightful and hilarious."—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED Review

Turtles are found on every continent EXCEPT Antarctica. But not for long! Follow along as a rogue group of determined animals embark on an adventure (and defy their flustered narrator in the process) in this funny animal picture book for kids!

When the narrator explains that turtles are found on every continent except Antarctica, one determined turtle sets out to prove him wrong. After recruiting other non-Antarctic animals along the way—much to the narrator's dismay—turtle and his friends travel through fields, forests, and cross an entire ocean to reach their goal. But what exactly do they do once they get there?

This nature-documentary-gone-wrong is a gleefully funny lesson in determination, and includes educational backmatter and lots of animal fun facts!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728233260
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	07/06/2021
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	50,967
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD540L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Todd Sturgell is an illustrator, author, and freelance art & creative director. In his previous career as a corporate advertising art director, he worked with national brands including The Home Depot, Hyundai, Red Lobster, and 7-11; in his current role, he focuses on local and regional clients including universities, museums, and music, food, arts, and wine festivals. He lives, hikes, draws, and watches nature documentaries in the North Carolina Mountains with his wife, daughters, and dog Max (named for a certain famous picture book character). He has not yet been to Antarctica.

Editorial Reviews

05/10/2021

Readers of animal facts books are accustomed to the phrase “on every continent except Antarctica” being applied to myriad species. But how do the animals themselves feel about this categorization? Based on the reaction of a turtle who dons a cozy hat and starts out on a we’ll-show-you expedition to the frozen south, the same way as young readers who’ve been told something is off limits: defiant. Joining the passel of critters following the turtle, a snake archly informs the book’s unseen and increasingly frustrated narrator that its species is “known to break the rules.” After an unpleasant trip stacked on top of the turtle’s back, they arrive in Antarctica only to discover that it is, indeed, exceedingly cold. But while the narrator can’t resist a smug “HA!” as they leave, that triumph is fleeting: the emperor penguin has just heard that it is found only in Antarctica. Digitally colored pen and ink drawings vary tonally—a couple of threateningly stormy spreads veer away from the book’s otherwise comical vibe—but debut creator Sturgell has a savvy sense of visual pacing, and the meta-comic repartee is spot-on. “Why would a dung beetle travel to Antarctica with a turtle and an owl?” the narrator asks. “Two words,” replies the beetle: “Penguin poop.” Ages 4–8. Agent: Molly O’Neill, Root Literary. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"Readers will laugh out loud at the animals’ recalcitrance and the narrator’s frustrations, all the while absorbing a great deal of information. Delightful and hilarious." — Kirkus Reviews, STARRED Review

"Sturgell depicts his animal travelers with some naturalism, adding the occasional playful detail and, once they realize what Antarctica is like, comically dismayed expressions." — Booklist

"[D]ebut creator Sturgell has a savvy sense of visual pacing, and the meta-comic repartee is spot-on." — Publishers Weekly

"If you have young readers who are desperate to know what kind of animals can survive at the southern tip of the Earth, this is the book for them...a good read aloud option for kids between 4-8." — Susan Harari, Youth Services Book Review

"Snarky dialogue and the hapless narrator’s growing frustration add lots of humor to the engaging story...[a] well-executed and entertaining book." — Horn Book

From the Publisher

★ 2021-05-19
An earnest narrator attempts to impart facts about animals that are seen on all continents with the exception of Antarctica.

When a turtle hears that its species has no presence there, it refuses to accept the fact and immediately announces its departure for Antarctica. The startled narrator demands that it retreat to its original page but is ignored. As more animals are told that they too are not represented on that continent, the narrator is faced with total rebellion, completely losing control of the endeavor. No number of warnings that they will not survive in that climate, nor ridicule, nor threats, can keep an owl, a dung beetle, a snake, a mouse, a bee, and a frog from joining the turtle in the mad expedition. After an astonishingly inventive journey, the travelers joyfully arrive in Antarctica, to the amazement of its penguins. But they soon discover that the narrator is right about the frigid, unbearable climate, and they head for home, leaving a surprise twist involving a penguin. The swiftly rising, maniacal tone is highlighted by different, boldfaced types assigned to the narrator and the animals. Vivid, wildly imaginative illustrations add wonder and excitement to the proceedings. Readers will laugh out loud at the animals’ recalcitrance and the narrator’s frustrations, all the while absorbing a great deal of information.

Delightful and hilarious. (further information, map, glossary) (Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews