Book: Old Turtle

Overview
Old Turtle, written by Douglas Wood and illustrated by Cheng-Khee Chee, was published in 1992 as a picture book that reads like a modern-day fable. Lyrical and contemplative, it asks large spiritual questions in language accessible to children while refusing simplistic answers. The book blends storytelling and quiet theology to invite readers of any age to rethink ideas about divinity, belonging, and the natural world.

Plot
The narrative opens with a timeless question about who made the world and how people imagine that maker. As humans speak and argue, they create pictures of a powerful, kinglike god who justifies their fears and fights. Old Turtle appears as a patient, wise presence who insists that God is not a distant ruler to be used as an excuse for domination. Through short, poetic exchanges and gentle scenes, the protagonists, children and animals among them, move from confusion and conflict toward the recognition that the divine is found in love, in the earth, and in each living thing.

Characters and Voice
The title character, Old Turtle, embodies ancient calm and steady perception. Old Turtle speaks rarely but meaningfully, modeling humility and reverence rather than certainty and control. Other voices in the book range from questioning children to arguing adults and restless animals, creating a chorus that contrasts human anxiety with the turtle's quiet wisdom. The narrator's tone is meditative, often using repetition and simple declarative sentences to emphasize spiritual truths rather than theological doctrine.

Themes
At its heart, Old Turtle explores what it means to imagine God without fear, domination, or exclusion. It challenges anthropomorphic and militaristic images of the divine, instead presenting a vision of sacredness that is immanent in the natural world and embodied in compassion. The book insists that understanding comes through listening, humility, and care for the earth and one another. Peace, reconciliation, and ecological stewardship are presented as spiritual practices rather than political programs.

Style and Illustrations
Douglas Wood's prose is spare, poetic, and deliberately simple; its rhythm and repetition give the story the cadence of a parable. Cheng-Khee Chee's illustrations complement the text with rich, textured watercolors and soft, layered compositions that evoke both intimacy and vastness. The artwork uses earthy tones and expressive gestures to make the natural world feel living and sentient, so that readers sense the book's central claim not only in words but in image.

Impact and Use
Old Turtle has been embraced in classrooms, religious education settings, and homes as a gentle prompt for conversations about spirituality, tolerance, and environmental responsibility. Its inclusive language and refusal to endorse any single religious system make it useful for interfaith dialogue and for introducing children to the idea that spiritual truth can be found in humility and love. The book's combination of poetic text and compelling art continues to make it a memorable entry point to big questions about meaning, belonging, and how people should live together on the earth.