Turtles heading home

Kemp's ridley sea turtles, a critically endangered species that makes annual migrations from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the beaches of Cape Cod, are increasingly being affected by cooler temperatures resulting from climate change. This offering follows volunteers finding cold-stunned, paralyzed turtles on New England beaches, packing them in seaweed, and transporting them to emergency rescue facilities. Present tense action verbs and close-up photos move each sea turtle along its perilous path, through a nighttime rescue, a hurried drive in a temperature-controlled car, a thorough rinsing and physical examination by an aquarium doctor, a gradual warming in increasingly higher temperature tanks, and careful monitoring of eating and pooping. Even after all of this tender loving care, the turtles still need help, so volunteer pilots use private planes to transport them to long-care recovery centers in the hopes of eventually releasing the turtles back into ocean waters. The book's nonstop action conveys immediacy and hope; rich back matter offers considerable support. An especially informative and positive resource about conservation, suitable for all STEM collections.

A step-by-step account of concerted efforts underway to rescue the hundreds of rare sea turtles washed ashore around Cape Cod every winter. Successfully reviving plate-size "Kemp's ridley sea turtles" that have been stunned by unseasonably chill waters turns out to be a fussy, complicated process. The authors explain things in careful detail as they give readers a chance to meet many of the workers who search beaches, carefully transport stranded turtles to a wildlife rehabilitation lab for treatment, and then return the survivors to the shore. How rare is the Kemp's ridley? Astonishingly, until recently there was but one nesting site in the world, and in 1985, fewer than 250 females laid eggs there. Thanks to efforts like the one documented here, that population has been steadily growing since then. The authors also include information on the animal's life cycle; after finishing this work--and poring over the many bright color photos--concerned young eco-activists will come away agreeing with the wildlife biologist who dubs these turtles "charismatic." Those eager to help will appreciate the backmatter, which offers guidance on combating climate change and helping sea turtles. An inspiring success story for animal-rescue advocates. (photo credits)(Nonfiction. 7-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.