The Turtle Family

By Summer Fontana

From actress Summer Fontana comes a heartfelt and humorous story about a family of turtles that live in the suburb of Coral Corner Neighborhood.  Each chapter gives young readers and their families a fun and unique perspective on life lessons that the Shells and those close to them learn throughout the book. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Summer Fontana
• Release date: Aug 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735439006

Book preview

Jeremy’s Troubles

One gloomy, rainy Tuesday morning, a chilling breeze misted up against a turtle family’s log. Inside this log, the elder of the Shell family was not happy about the weather.

Oh man! I needed to mow the lawn this morning, but now thanks to the weather I’ll have to squeeze it into this week’s busy schedule, Jeremy, father and husband of the Shell family, moaned.

Now Jeremy, without rain you wouldn’t have your favorite lemongrass tea or your blackberry muffins, Jeremy’s wife, Jewel, explained while playing with her daughter on the living room couch. Perhaps it will stop raining soon and you’ll be able to get the mowing done this morning.

Guess I’ll get a quick bite of scrambled eggs and toast before I head out, Jeremy said, moping to the kitchen.

Sorry honey, the kids were extra hungry today and ate the last of the eggs this morning, Jewel pointed out as her frustrated husband stared blankly at the empty pan on the stove.

Meanwhile in the living room, while packing his backpack for school, Fred, Jewel and Jeremy’s son, noticed the rain had stopped. Come on sis! He called to Lucy––the younger of the two Shell children––while running out the door. Last one out is a rotten egg!

As the kids played outside before school, Jewel busied herself making tuna sandwiches and plankton cookies while Jeremy pondered on what to do since he’d had no breakfast and the yard was still too wet to mow. It does me no good on my day off to sit around and wait for the grass to dry, he decided. I’ll be working on something in the garage. Please don’t disturb me unless it is an emergency, Jeremy told Jewel before he went outside.

Jewel finished making the lunches as the kids came in to grab their book bags and lunch pails before heading off to school at Croker Elementary.

Have a good day! Jewel said as she hugged and kissed her kids good-bye. Then when the busy mother was about to take a relaxing bath after the morning rush, Jeremy called for her from the garage. Hey honey! I have a surprise for you.

Be right there, she replied with a sigh and slowly made her way to the garage. Once she had opened the door to the rusty old shed, she noticed the family boat had been painted lime green and fluorescent pink. Suddenly, Jewel’s heart dropped. She could not believe what she was seeing.

So? Jeremy pushed for his wife’s opinion. Do you like it? Still in shock from her husband’s

surprise she politely responded, I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but to be honest, I prefer beach tones.

At her words, Jeremy’s prideful smile turned to a frown . . . he had spent every Saturday for the past month painting the boat and was sure Jewel would love it. How could he have been so wrong about her preferences? Okay . . . I will ask Mr. Flipper to fix it right away, Jeremy replied solemnly to his wife.

When Jeremy woke up the next morning, he was determined to put yesterday’s disappointments behind him and enjoy the day with his family. As he walked into the living room on his way to get his morning coffee, he was surprised to find Jewel sitting in their pearl chair with a brace on her neck. Honey, are you okay? Jeremy asked his wife, a little concerned.

I need to go to turtle therapy and get a rub down because my neck is aching. I may have slept on it wrong, but I’m not sure, Jewel explained to the elder Shell.

Go ahead and ask Sally to take you since I have to take the boat to Mr. Flipper to repaint it, Jeremy said, tripping over his children’s toys on his way to the kitchen. But before Jewel could respond, the lights went off in the family’s log home. Something else gone wrong! Jeremy said exasperated. I will call Sparky the electric eel to replace the lights, he promised, a bit frazzled.

Slightly irritated by her pain and oblivious to her husband’s remark, Jewel added, "Well, the other day I called Sally and she said that she was going to be in the Gulf of Mexico and won’t be back until tomorrow night. So how do I get to my

turtle therapy appointment?" Her neck was aching, and she needed a break from all of the stress at home.

But before Jeremy could respond, the kids, home from school, ran into the living room. We’re back!

Just call–– Jeremy began, but was cut off by a loud springing sound coming from the kitchen.What in the name of fresh water was that? Jeremy shouted. As the words came out of his mouth, he could tell the day was not going as peaceful as he had hoped