2027 Monarch Award Nominee (Illinois State Reading List)
2026 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children and Teens (District of Columbia State Reading List)
Volunteer State Book Awards, 2026-2027, Primary Division Nominee (Tennessee State Reading List)
Heartland Booksellers Award — Picture Book Finalist
“The sweet story, inspired by actual behavior of gopher tortoises and the Florida mice, begs to be read aloud with its catchy repetition and dramatic moments. Young readers will dig this cozy, creastive exploration of expanding friendships.”
— Booklist
“A sweet mix of truth and fiction that craft a delicious tale of friendship and communication.” – Stephanie Staton, @coffeetreebooks (Morehead, KY)
“Very sweet and thoughtful story with engaging illustrations - I can see families reading it again and again.” - Bookseller, @bookstoreofge The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn (Glen Ellyn, IL)
“The sweetest and silliest bunch of pals that will warm your heart! I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear!” – Tiffany Gonzalez, @booksaremagicbk (Brooklyn, NY)
“The stunning illustrations bring the vibrant world of the burrow to life, capturing the beauty of their shared habitat. With a wonderful message of appreciating our friends and those who work hard for our communities, this story reminds us that everyone deserves a good rest—especially our hardworking tortoise!” – Kassandra McKenna, @watermarkbooksandcafe (Wichita, KS)
“Excellent read-aloud! Full of bright colors, minimal text, fun repetition, and cute background details for the more observant readers. Also a great book for classrooms! Educators can review what a pourquoi story is and maybe have the kiddos try writing one of their own.” - Amanda Zarni, @bookendswinchester (Winchester, MA)
