Tortuga Squad: Kids Saving Sea Turtles in Costa Rica

Gr 2–5—An exploration of the Tortuga Squad, a group of poor Costa Rican children struggling to save endangered sea turtles that lay their eggs along the sandy coast. The children guide the hatchlings to the sea and have even enlisted one of their grandfathers, a former poacher, to stand guard at a hatchery they built. Bright photos depict the children in action, the turtles and other animals, and the surroundings. The spreads also include attractively arranged maps and drawings and deftly inserted facts about turtles as well as the dangers they experience in the ocean. The simple, dialogue-heavy text enhances the appeal. Burnham has written other books about compassionate efforts by children, such as Doyli to the Rescue: Saving Baby Monkeys in the Amazon (Crickhollow, 2015), that inspire readers to take positive action. Back matter consists of a motivational message from the author.