Common Sense Media Review
By Mandie Caroll
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Tender story of brave pet's devotion to his missing girl.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
TRUMAN, a tortoise the size of a small donut, lives with his girl, Sarah, high above the noisy, bustling city. He enjoys their quiet life in their peaceful apartment, but one day, Truman watches as Sarah packs a big backpack (so big 32 tortoises could fit inside), leaves him extra food, and gets on the bus he can see from his window, something she has never done. He waits "a thousand hours" before resolving to go find her. He must overcome obstacles both physical (furniture) and emotional (fear) as he crosses the expanse of the living room -- a space that now feels vast and uncharted without Sarah. Will he be able to muster up the bravery needed to reunite with his beloved owner?
Is It Any Good?
This wonderfully written and illustrated story reminds readers that doing hard things is something to be proud of, even if it may seem small to others. From the first page, when we meet Truman as he sits on a napkin adorably munching on a miniature tortoise-sized donut, there's a lot to love. Their apartment is a refuge from the loud, roaring city below. Truman shows genuine concern when Sarah leaves him behind. Readers will recognize his child-like devotion to Sarah and relate to his missing her. When he decides he must find her, he uses the resources in his environment (rocks, cushions, a boot, etc.) to begin his journey. Then, when he encounters the unsettling vastness of the living room rug, he stops, thinks, and musters up the courage to go on.
The gouache, brush marker, charcoal, colored pencil, and digitally drawn art is simple and evocative. The reunion spread is particularly luminous, with Truman glowing in a sun-like halo that communicates how special he is to Sarah as well as the bigness of his accomplishment. With its tender story and captivating illustrations, Truman will be a fast favorite for kids and their adults.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Sarah and Truman's friendship in Truman. How do you know they get along? What signs does Truman notice that tell him something is different on this day?
What character strengths does Truman show as he goes after Sarah? When have you had to show these strengths? How did you feel when you behaved this way?
Talk about the drawings in this book. How do they show the way Truman sees the world? Do any of the drawings show a different perspective?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Lucy Ruth Cummins
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atheneum Books For Young Readers
- Publication date : December 18, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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