I Am Stuck

K-Gr 2–Charmingly simple illustrations show a turtle on its back, clearly in trouble. In a first-person narration, it describes that it is stuck, and advice from a passing duck to wiggle its feet does not help because, of course, a turtle is not a duck stuck in water. A kangaroo suggests wagging its tail and demonstrates how that helps a stuck kangaroo; once again, this advice is of no use to the turtle. The armadillo’s advice is just as moot. A possum skips the advice and keeps the turtle company while the hero of the piece solves the problem. The storytelling is on the luxurious side; despite a spare use of words, the point is clear by the second encounter. However, the possum’s comforting companionship will convince even the youngest child that sometimes just being with a friend in trouble can help.