One summer night, a young child witnesses a huge green sea turtle laying her eggs on a Florida beach. As he watches, he decides to record what happens in a diary. Readers will follow along as the narrator observes baby turtles hatching from the eggs, climbing out of their sandy nest, and then making a treacherous run to the ocean. As the tiny hatchlings begin their new lives at sea, the young diarist researches how turtles grow, the dangers they face, and how female turtles eventually return to the beach where they hatched to lay their own eggs. Colorful photos and clear, age-appropriate text will engage young readers as they explore the life cycle, natural habitat, physical characteristics, diet, and behavior of these endangered animals. The diary format models scientific observation and critical thinking--and encourages children to keep notebooks recording their own investigations into the natural world.

Learn how sea turtles live.

Marine biologist James R. Spotila has spent much of his life unraveling the mysteries of these graceful creatures and working to ensure their survival. In "Sea Turtles," he offers a comprehensive and compelling account of their history and life cycle based on the most recent scientific data and suggests what we can be done to save them. Illustrated with stunning, full-color photographs. 0-808-8007-6$24.95 / Johns Hopkins University Press

Eggs laid in the sand by a female sea turtle hatch into tiny turtles, which eventually grow large enough to lay their own eggs.

"A turtle sensing danger will pull its head, legs, and tail inside of its shell. This book teaches children about the life cycle of a turtle. Young readers will learn how turtles hatch from eggs, avoid predators, and live a very long time!"

Sea turtles have strong flippers to propel them through water. These shelled animals may migrate thousands of miles to lay eggs. Although they are not agile on shore, some can swim faster than 20 miles (32 kilometers) per hour! Many sea turtles live to be well over 30 years old. Beginning readers will learn a boat load of exciting information in this fun title on sea turtles.

"Follow a hatchling's treacherous journey from nest to sea" --Amazon.