Tommy Turtle by Mary and Michael Schmidt is a cute little story about overcoming shyness and how mingling with others helps develop self-confidence. At the core of this tale is Tommy, a shy land turtle who is too nervous to play or speak so he prefers to hide in his shell. A turtle named Jerry tells Tommy that it’s okay to be nervous, and he invites Tommy to come out and splash in the puddles. But Tommy is afraid that the other turtles may not want to play with him, and that they might make fun of him. Jerry wants to make new friends and play, and he suggests to Tommy that they start by playing together. If Tommy feels comfortable after that, then they can play with the other turtles. And so begins Tommy’s exercise in sharpening his social skills.

Tommy Turtle is a sweet situational story that illustrates a typical scenario or a day in the life of a shy child. Mary and Michael Schmidt got it right in depicting a child’s nervousness and feeling of isolation around other people or kids. The story is a step-by-step process of showing young readers that it doesn’t hurt for them to get out of their shells. As shyness is a natural stage in a child’s development, this story reminds them that they can derive a great sense of purpose and confidence when presented with an opportunity to exercise their interpersonal skills. The crisp images of different types of turtles put an emphasis on diversity and the value of inclusion. For parents and teachers struggling to deal with shy children, this storybook can be a good starting point to help them get the message.

Have you ever been lonely? Do you find yourself avoiding making friends because you are shy? If your children answer “yes” to either of these two questions, this book is for them. Come join Tommy—the shy turtle—as he learns to be more open. Tommy meets new friends, and they help him open up and learn to play freely with others. While Mary and Michael Schmidt teach how to overcome shyness in Tommy Turtle, they also remind children that it is sometimes ok to be shy. This cute story starts with Tommy being afraid to play with other turtles because he thinks that they will make fun of him. Unfortunately, this is a common fear among children. However, Jerry makes a special effort to include Tommy, and the results are excellent.

Mary and Michael Schmidt's Tommy Turtle addresses social issues. Shyness is one of the major problems among children. Other children may be outgoing, but shy children draw back from fun activities because of fear. They often look at others having fun with envy but overcoming their fear of rejection or being made fun of is difficult. No one should make fun of a child for being shy. Shy is a defense technique in surviving society. Tommy wants to be accepted like all the other turtles but is scared. His fear is exhibited in shyness. Reading this book with your children will allow you to broach the subject of shyness, whether theirs or one of their friends. Discuss ways your children can cope with shyness or how to be a good friend and help another shy child cope.