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Teaching Through Action
Babies on Board Part 2 follows an iguana, a parrot, a squirrel, and a mouse who band together to visit the beach in the middle of the night to help sea turtle hatchlings safely reach the ocean. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I moved to Florida in 2013, and I started to take notice of all the wonderful wildlife and sea creatures that live here in this amazing state. My first residence was right on the beach, and it just happened to be sea turtle nesting season, which occurs May through November ( also Hurricane season). I first noticed the poles with yellow tape all along the beach, and then I met actual volunteers who sit next to the nest at night and wait for the hatchlings to break free from their shells. This occurs exactly two months after the female turtle lays her eggs. The baby sea turtles must make the long trek from their nest to the water, where they will swim to freedom. Only half of the baby turtles survive because there are many predators on land ( crabs, snakes, birds) and sea (sharks, dolphins, barracuda, grouper) waiting to gobble them up. Also, the babies do get confused by the street lights, if there are any around. They instinctively crawl toward the moonlight, which is always over the ocean. This magnificent journey inspired me to educate children about these adorable little sea creatures who are the greatest of survivors.
How did the concept of teamwork among such different animal characters first develop?
The concept for my series started out with a friendship between Grumpy the Iguana and Green Parrot. Afterwards, neighbors in Flamingo Park were introduced into the storyline, like Mr. Squirrel and adopted friend, Little Mouse.
Do you have a personal favorite character to write scenes for?
I love all the characters because they each have their own individual personality. Grumpy is the brains. Green Parrot brings sensibility. Mr. Squirrel is a perfectionist, and Little Mouse is a kid who used to be scared but is now fearless.
How do you balance storytelling with factual environmental education?
I try not to preach, and by teaching through action, I think children will be more willing to absorb the message.
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Babies on board (part 2) continues the story. Grumpy and friends return to the beach, only this time it is in the middle of the night. They are there to make sure that all of the baby turtles make it safely to the sea where their father anxiously awaits their arrival. But as we all know, nothing ever goes smoothly when it comes to
Grumpy the Iguana, the Green Parrot, Mr. Squirrel and Little Mouse. Follow along and watch as our heroes fight against time and a street light to help the baby sea turtles find their dad..
Babies on Board Part 2 (A Grumpy the Iguana and Green Parrot Adventure)
Babies on Board Part 2, by Susan Marie Chapman, follows Grumpy the Iguana, Green Parrot, Mr. Squirrel, and Little Mouse as they return to the beach in the middle of the night to help a giant sea turtle’s babies make it safely to the ocean. What begins as a moonlit rescue mission becomes a gentle lesson about sea turtle hatchlings, artificial light, teamwork, and the quiet courage it takes to do the right thing when small lives are depending on you.
I liked how the story balances adventure with tenderness. There’s a real sweetness in watching these four friends hold hands in the dark, admit they’re scared, and still keep going. It’s such a small moment, but it says something lovely about bravery: children don’t have to be fearless to be helpful. The writing is simple and earnest, with bits of humor from Mr. Squirrel and Little Mouse that keep the story from feeling too serious. The book feels like it’s trying to comfort and teach at the same time, and mostly, it succeeds.
I appreciated that Chapman introduces children to sea turtle conservation without making the lesson feel cold or lecture-heavy. The danger of artificial lights confusing hatchlings is woven into the plot in a way that children can understand, and the instruction not to touch the baby turtles gives the story a nice sense of responsibility. Natalia Loseva’s artwork has a soft, hand-drawn charm that suits the nighttime setting beautifully. The deep blues, sandy browns, moonlit water, and tiny turtles create a calm, watchful mood. Some pages are sparse, but that openness works, especially when the beach feels wide and dark, and the baby turtles seem so small against it.
I found Babies on Board Part 2 to be a warm and thoughtful picture book with a sincere environmental message and a tender emotional core. It feels like the kind of children’s book I’d read aloud slowly at bedtime, letting my child linger over the moon, the ocean, and the little turtles finding their way home. I’d recommend it for young animal lovers, families who enjoy gentle adventure stories, and parents looking for a sweet way to start a conversation about helping wildlife and caring for the natural world.
Pages: 237 | ASIN : B09GV6TCNQ
A Real-Life American Dream: The John H. McClatchy Story
A Real-Life American Dream: The John H. McClatchy Story is a short and heartfelt portrait of a poor errand boy who becomes a huge Philadelphia builder and devoted family patriarch. The book follows John H. from his grinding childhood work in the 1880s, through his marriage to May, the launch of his own building company, and the creation of the 69th Street Boulevard shopping district. It explores the terror of the Great Financial Crisis and his refusal to declare bankruptcy, then moves into late-life reflection and the legacy of his homes, his business, and his enormous family, supported by photos, clippings, and a bibliography that anchor the story in real history.
I enjoyed the way the book is framed as John speaking in his own voice. The early chapters read almost like a grandfather telling stories at the kitchen table. The details feel vivid and concrete. Four jobs by age fourteen. A soapbox on baby carriage wheels as a delivery cart. Prices for pork chops and beef that sound unreal today. The language is simple and direct, and that suits the subject. I also liked the mix of text and visuals in the middle pages. Old ads for Wellington Road Homes, photos of the McClatchy Building lit up, a family portrait on the lawn. Those touches helped me see the scale of his projects and the style of the era, not just read about them.
The ideas at the heart of the book stirred me more than the prose itself. I felt pulled in by this picture of relentless work, deep Catholic faith, and overwhelming loyalty to family. The numbers around the Great Financial Crisis are brutal. Whole blocks of homes lost at sheriff’s sale. Tens of thousands of families in trouble. It made John’s choice to avoid bankruptcy feel heavy and risky, not just heroic. I appreciated that tension. I also felt a tug when he contrasts his frantic life in real estate with the quiet routines of farmers in Lancaster County. That reflection on ambition and simplicity feels honest. The book leans into the classic American Dream story and keeps a rosy lens.
I came away with real affection for John as a person. I felt his pride in his work, his grief over family deaths, his joy in waking up grandchildren before dawn for surprise trips to New York. This is not a dense, critical biography. It is more like a family keepsake that has been polished and shared with a wider audience. I would recommend the book to readers who enjoy inspirational business stories, local Philadelphia or Upper Darby history, real estate and urban development tales, or family-saga style narratives that keep the focus on character, faith, and grit. If you want a quick, emotionally warm look at one man’s version of the American Dream, this little book fits that niche very well.
Pages: 56 | ASIN : B0G6QGX1LS
