Book cover accessed from: goodreads.com
Bryan, Ashley. 1993. Turtle Knows Your Name. New York: Aladdin Books. ISBN 0-689-71728-8.
Summary:
A little boy, by the name of Upsilimana Tumpalerado has a hard time making friends with children and with animals because of his long name. Everyone has a difficult time remembering it, because it is so long. His grandmother challenges him to find out her name while at the same time she tells him his name is not the longest name there is. Of course, grandma does not think he will find out her name. Upsilimana Tumpalerado sets out on a quest to find out his grandma’s name and in his journey he meets turtle and she helps him to find out grandma’s name. Both Upsilimana Tumpalerado and grandma learn that it is not important how long your name is, but that what is important is that you know who you are and you value yourself and if you do, others will value you too.
Critical analysis:
Upsilimana Tumpalerado, his grandma, and the turtle are the characters in the story. They are symbolic of basic human traits and are not dynamic or complicated.- The plot is simple, episodic, and full of action while the resolution is very satisfying if not realistic. Upsilimana Tupalerado is on a quest to find out his grandmother’s name, the crucial conflict of the plot.
- The story takes place in a village by the sea, which can be anywhere and far away in a distant past. The setting is vague, established quickly, as well as time passes quickly, it is very important because it helps us to understand the context for our protagonist. The story takes place in a village by the sea, which can be anywhere and far away in a distant past.
- The theme is big and global, strongly moral, ethical, and universal. It ends happily, as both grandchild and grandmother learn that everything is not in a name, but in who you are.
- The style the repetitive rhythmic patterns capture the sounds of spoken language in print and maintain the integrity of the early retellings of the story. The style is also culturally specific with a motif of magic represented by the turtle.
- The painted water color illustrations by Mr. Bryant are very cheerful and vibrant complementing and extending the story. The design and style are appropriate and it reflects the heritage of the story. The vibrant illustrations create a peaceful, yet exciting mood, pace, and tension that keeps the reader hooked wanting to get to the part where the story is resolved.
- The cultural markers are authentic of the cultural representation of the story. The languages, as well as the images are true, helping the reader gain insight into the culture and customs of the African American culture.
Awards:
I didn't find any.
Review excerpt(s):
School Library Journal, 10/01/1989
Gr 2-4-- Bryan shows his love of word patterns, sounds, and repetition in his retelling of this West Indian folktale. In addition to the boy named Upsilimana Tumpalerado and his Granny, Mapaseedo Jackalindy Eye Pie Tackarindy, Bryan uses animals sounds, whistles, chants and phrases such as ``. . .she hugged him once, she kissed him twice, she swung him around, wheee, three times!''to create a rhythmic text which celebrates the pride of two people who learn to honor their names and their identities, and expect others to do the same. Turtle plays the role of a benevolent supernatural figure--listening, observing, and recording names in shells at the bottom of the sea--validating their importance even though others are unable or unwilling to do so. By the end the names are kept as a secret power by Granny and Son, who do not need the recognition of others, since they know and value themselves. The art is beautifully patterned, like the text, with vibrant images in the full-page, watercolor paintings. The handsome and loving black grandmother and her grandson inhabit a radiant, tropical world and should bring delight to young children and storytellers, who will recognize their proud and loving spirits, and will enjoy chanting the very long names over and over again. --Marilyn Iarusso, New York Public Library [1]
Kirkus Reviews, 09/15/1989
Retold from Parsons' Folklore of the Antilles (1936), a story about delight in the sounds of words and the warm relationship between a boy and his Granny. Upsilimana Tumpalerado has a time learning his own name; when he masters it, he proudly confides in all the animals--especially old Turtle, who lives nearby in the sea. Then it turns out that Granny has a name unknown to the boy: a secret name--even longer than his own--that he eventually learns from Turtle. Full of dancing rhythms and mild humor, the story's message about the value of the inner lives of those we take for granted is quietly understated. Bryan's lovely paintings, in light, bright island colors, swirl with joyous patterns; Granny and her boy are full of love and life. Fine for reading, telling, and sharing; just right to pair with Mosel's Tikki Tikki Tembo. Copyright 2003, VNU Business Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved[1]
Publishers Weekly, 07/28/1989
``Upsilimana Tumpalerado, / That's my name. / I took my time to learn it, / Won't you do the same?'' is the song of a boy, performing the name dance with Granny by the edge of the sea. While they dance, Turtle learns the boy's name, as he is the keeper of names. After Upsilimana Tumpalerado is unable to make friends with the other children or the animals, Granny challenges him to find out her true name. Turtle is the one who reveals it; her real name is even longer than the boy's, and she and her grandson agree on simpler appellations hence. With the funny names, abundant dialogue and animal noises, Bryan's lively retelling of this English Antillean story is well-suited to reading out loud. The festive paintings are a visual treat, complementing the text with jewel-like colors and fluid lines. Ages 5-8. (Sept.) [1]
Connections:
- Children create puppets to retell the story.
- Have children create a flipbook illustrating the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
- Readers Theater
Official publisher’s page for Ashley Bryan: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Ashley-Bryan/706174
Books by Ashley Bryan:
beautiful blackbird ashley bryan words to my life song the ox of the wonderful horns the adventure of aku beat the story-drum, pum-pum wlak together children i’m going to sing the dancing granny the cat’s purr lion and the ostrich chicks what a morning! sh-ko and his eight wicked brothers all things bright and beautiful
Bibliographies:
Bryan, Ashley. Turtle knows your name. Atheneum, 1989. Book Index with Reviews, EBSCOhost (accessed June 24, 2011).
[1] Ashley, Bryan. Turtle knows your name.
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