The Runaway Tortoise is another delightful story about caring for pets from the Barrington Stoke Little Gems collection. Written by Holly Webb, it has the same gentle empathy as her other animal tales.
Ava’s family has inherited her grandad’s tortoise, Albert. Tortoises are fascinating animals that can live up to 150 years but Ava thinks Albert is boring. A dog would be much more exciting: someone she can play with and who will sleep on her bed. When Auntie Grace brings her dog, Boots, to visit, Albert gets frightened, digs under the fence and goes missing. It’s only then Ava realises how much she cares for Albert. She’s worried and wants him home safe.
This is a lovely story about responsibility and caring for pets. Young readers will learn lots of facts about tortoises and how to care for them. It also provides great opportunities for making comparisons between different kinds of pets. The Runaway Tortoise and other books in this series would be fantastic resources for an EYFS topic on pets.
Little Gems books from Barrington Stoke are perfect for children in Reception and Key Stage One who are ready to add some variety to their reading diet. Pitched between picture books and chapter books, these early readers give children the feeling of an older book with accessible vocabulary and spacing to help them on their way. Brightly coloured illustrations add to the appeal.
Click on the covers below to find out more or purchase online:
Bookshop.org:
Amazon:
Books by Kate Heap:
| Primary English In Action by Kate Heap will be published in August 2026. Preorder it now! |
Disclosure: If you buy books using the links above, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org whose fees support independent bookshops. As an Amazon Associate, Scope for Imagination earns from qualifying purchases.
Scope for Imagination 