Review:
Chelonia Green, champion of turtles by Christobel Mattingly
Allen
and Unwin, 2008
(Age 8+) This is a breathtaking account of the damage done to the
environment by the users of the sea. Chelonia and her family live on an
island off the coast of Queensland. Chelonia loves the turtles and sees
them as her special friends, but is distraught when one of her
favourites, Caretta, turns up dead on the sands. Chelonia and her
father unwind the metres of fishing line wound around the turtle's
head, and together they begin the arduous job of picking up the rubbish
which litters the beaches.
Writing letters to the local yacht club, newspapers and government
officials seems to have no response until on one weekend a number of
people turn up to help clean up the beaches. A beautifully written
story by the admirable Christobel Mattingley, who always writes
convincingly about environmental issues,
Chelonia Green is a
salutary
reminder of the damage done to our coastlines and to the animals which
live along it. Chelonia Green will be enjoyed by a range of students
from beginning readers to upper primary and would work really well,
being read aloud.
Fran Knight
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Consulting, 2007