children’s book from the mid to late 70’s about a sea turtle that is rescued by a child. The child names the turtle nicky due to knicks on it’s fins or shell, nurses the turtle to health and helps it back to the sea.
Stump the Bookseller
New format, same book stumper solving.
This is ‘Steven and the Green Turtle,’ a Science I Can Read Book by William J. Cromie, illustrated by Tom Eaton (1970).
“Steven, a young boy who lives in Costa Rica, finds hundreds of tiny green turtles on the beach. He watches as one is nearly eaten by a dog, picked up by a bird, and grabbed by a crab. Steven rescues her from the crab, chases the dog away, and picks her up when the bird drops her. He decides that “Nicky” can’t survive without his care and adopts her as a pet. A delightful telling (and illustration) of Steven’s life with Nicky over about a year follows as she grows out of a pail, then a tank Steven’s father builds, and finally enjoys playing with Steven in a fenced off section of the ocean. They play tag, etc. Steven goes to an aquarium and learns facts about the green sea turtle and its endangered status. In response he sets Nicky free.
Part II is Nicky’s life in the ‘wild’ ocean – the dangers and her way of escaping them. After 7 years, she returns to her beach and just escapes being killed by Steven’s father who hunts and eats these turtles. Steven recognizes her ‘nicks’ and begs for her life.
The last section has Steven protecting her eggs and finaly adopting a “Nicky, Jr” who also probably wouldn’t have survived without his help.”
That’s great! Thanks so much for the help in finding this book.