"Although life hasn't always been easy for little turtle Shelley, things are looking up for him since he has been diagnosed with and treated for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. And that is precisely the point of this engaging and informative picture book aimed at children ages three to seven: life can be good with some help.
Before his diagnosis and treatment, Shelley cannot understand why he always seems to cause trouble at school and home and thinks he must be a bad little turtle. He withdraws into his shell so much that his mother takes him to the doctor who discovers that Shelley is not a bad turtle, just a turtle with a disorder that can be treated through medication and therapy. All's well that ends well for Shelley and, as one would hope, for the children who are the target audience for the second edition of this classic first published in 1989. This second edition updates Shelley from a flute-playing turtle to one who rides a skateboard, as well as reflecting changes in the diagnosis procedure and treatments for AD/HD. Recommended for public, school, and special libraries in addition to families dealing with this disorder."
-Disability Resources Online
"A useful and likable story that will surely help children and turtles with ADHD feel more comfortable in their own skin--or shells, whatever the case may be!"
-Contemporary Pediatrics, April 1, 2007
"When this sweet children's story about a hyperactive turtle named Shelley was originally published in 1989, it was one of the first books about ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). The turtle, with its characteristic slow, steady ways, is a wonderful foil for describing the wiggly, impulsive behaviors associated with ADHD. Children will readily be able to identify with how 'jumpy and wiggly' Shelley always feels, how hard it is for him to stay in his seat at school, his feelings of being bad because he can't pay attention, and how he just wants to crawl into his shell.
In 2006, Shelley's story is just as endearing. To ensure the story remains relevant, Woodbine has published a second edition with some new illustrations and updated information about the diagnostic testing and treatment options for children with ADHD. Shelley's story helps children and adults recognize and better understand the behaviors that are characteristic of ADHD. It also encourages parents to get their children the help they need to feel better about themselves and be better able to function at home, in school, and with groups of friends."
-NewsLine (Federation for Children with Special Needs), Spring/Summer 2006
"The positive illustrations and the text will help a child with AD/HD understand that some children have more trouble being quiet and still but that their parents, doctor and teachers want to help Shelley feel better. Taking medication and talking to a therapist are mentioned in the text. The last page of the book shows happy Shelly and the important message that Shelley?s parents and friends love him. I would recommend this book to consumer health libraries, especially those in a pediatric setting."
-CAPHIS Consumer Connections
"Vivid, playful illustrations and easy-to-understand terminology make Shelley, the Hyperactive Turtle a useful tool in demystifying ADHD from the point of diagnosis to treatment."
-Exceptional Family, Summer 2007
