Frank and Terrence are two competitive turtle.
They race about anything, almost everything.
And they are in trouble because of it.
Let's see if they can fix it.

It's a light, funny story, with great illustrations.
Feels good to read and also entertaining.

Kiah Thomas’s Two Turtles is a playful and cleverly structured picture book that turns a simple predicament into a study of friendship, rivalry, and resilience. The story follows two turtles who find themselves stuck together, and Thomas uses this small, contained scenario to explore how friends navigate frustration, competition, and cooperation. The humour is gentle but constant, driven by the turtles’ escalating attempts to outsmart each other while still relying on one another to solve their shared problem.
The dynamic between the two characters was a standout feature for my children. Both my 5‑ and 8‑year‑old were especially entertained by the humorous rivalry, the way each turtle tries to take the lead, prove a point, or come up with the “better” idea. That competitive energy felt instantly recognisable to them, and it kept them fully engaged from page to page.
Jake A Minton’s expressive illustrations amplify the comedic tension, using facial expressions and visual pacing to highlight the turtles’ stubbornness and determination. The artwork works in tandem with the text, creating a rhythm that makes the book highly effective as a read‑aloud.
Overall, Two Turtles succeeds not just as a funny story but as a thoughtful look at how friends navigate challenges together. It’s a book that entertains young readers while quietly reinforcing problem‑solving, patience, and the value of sticking with someone—even when you’re trying to outdo them.

Thank you Charlesbridge and Kiah Thomas for this ARC!

This book is simply adorable. Kids will absolutely laugh out loud at the matter-of-fact style of humor this book's narration has. The illustrations of this book are pretty and green and readers will enjoy Frank and Terrance!

Oh this is such a good book! I like how the author arranged the sequence of the story. I'm glad he started with the suspense part then "flashback" interchanging. The reason why they are in that predicament was mentioned in the middle of the book. It's funny and completely silly. The illustration is top notch that it made the character designs of animals adorable. The unpredictable ending added some twist to this engaging and humorous story.

Publish Date September 15, 2026

This beautiful story completely won my heart from the very first page. Two Turtles by Kiah Thomas is a gentle yet powerful read that explores competitiveness, working together and problem resolving.
Thomas does a wonderful job building characters that feel real and relatable, allowing readers to connect with their struggles, growth, and bond. The pacing is steady and thoughtful, giving each moment space to breathe and resonate.

The writing style is clear making it an easy yet meaningful read. It is also a wonderful read aloud book, easily encouraging thoughtful conversation and connection, whether shared with children, students, or a group setting. There is a warmth in the storytelling reflecting on the importance of companionship, understanding, and perseverance.

Super silly book with a great message! Students and teachers will enjoy this one! Can’t wait to see what Kiah Thomas comes up with next!

The terribly tragic and terrifically funny tale of “The Two Turtles” who just can’t stop one-upping each other has been a favorite of my little ones. Frank and Terrance hurtling off a cliff made for a great opener to discuss working together and losing gracefully (with young ones any chance to talk through those feelings is a big plus for me)! I loved how Thomas doesn’t lecture the reader, but leaves room for kids to work out the silliness and life lesson for themselves. The beautiful illustrations and absurd situations are reminiscent of John Klassen. Highly recommend for the 3-6 crowd.

Thanks to NetGalley & Charlesbridge for the complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I loved this children’s book!!! This is such a fun book to read with kids. Especially kids with siblings like mine who are always competing over everything! This was so funny and cute.

Love a book that can make me giggle. And Terrance and Frank did just that. As a mom of 4, with two little headbutting toddlers it definitely made lite of the headaches these little cuties get into.
I especially loved how the narrator doesn’t try to pretend these turtles will work together on their own. It felt so realistic and I FELT SEEN!

Such a cute story about teamwork being the best solution. Loved the illustrations. My kids enjoyed the book.

Two Turtles is about the perils of taking competition too far. Terrence and Frank are turtles keep giving each other challenges to see who will win and one such challenge results in both of them falling off a cliff.

Because the book begins when they’re already falling, there’s a sense of urgency in the narrative. If the turtles don’t break their competitive streak and start working together, they’ll not survive.

And this is why the book is special - the reader is called to participate in the story throughout. The narrator addresses the reader directly, reminiscent of oral storytelling. The reader is a speaking observer. Through tongue-in-cheek humour, the reader is established as more knowledgeable than the turtles and someone who can teach rather than just learn from them.

There is some delightful visual humour in the illustrations as well as good use of blank space. The surroundings are idyllic, with birds, lush green trees and moss, and colourful flowers. The competitiveness of the turtles seems out of place here.

The narrative isn’t against the competitive spirit as a whole, but calls upon readers to think about and recognize the limits of friendly and healthy competition!

This was a delightful picture book which had me chuckling.
"Frank And Terrance are falling off a cliff. It's their own fault, really."
Frank and Terrance make a competition out of everything and when one goes wrong and leads to one falling off a cliff... Well... Who can reach the bottom first? Of course, turtles aren't meant to hit the ground, so can they work together to land safely?
Very humourous and the illustrations are perfectly done - absolutely loved the little bird watching them. This was lots of fun and I have already reread it a couple of times, taking my time to delight in the illustrations and fun storytelling.

Oh my heck, we LOVED this book. From the very first page my kids could not stop giggling. This is such a sweet and humorous book about the pitfalls of being overly competitive, something my kids really related to. Highly recommend pulling out this one when dealing with sibling rivalries!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book! This book was adorable and funny and had a good message about working together. The illustrations were great, the pacing was perfect for suspense and comedy. I would definitely buy this book for my kids and as gifts for others.

Well, this was absolutely delightful. Two Turtles follows two competitive, ornery turtles (Terrence and Frank) and the circumstances in which they find themselves falling off a cliff to the treachery below. Can they put aside their competition and work together? What will happen? I can totally see myself using this in a toddler storytime, it reminded me so much of Jon Klassen in terms of the dry humor and expressive illustrations. I can't wait for this to hit the shelves!

This was such a fun and funny story about two turtles who are in an impossible situation--falling from a cliff. How did they get to this point? And how will they solve their problem? As their story unfolds, readers will be entertained by their personalities and antics, and will be satisfied with the resolution. I recommend this silly story for schools and libraries.

Terence and Frank are way too competitive, which leads to the pair of them falling off a cliff. (Stay with me here!) When cooperation rather than competition is the only way to save themselves, can they manage to do it?

I really liked Kiah Thomas’ fable, but it’s Jake A. Minton’s illustrations that really make this picture book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Charlesbridge in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic book about being competitive but to also be reasonable when it comes to danger and safety. Being competitive is natural within us all, but what to do when things get out of hand? This picture book connects with younger readers using humorous language as two turtles are falling off a cliff.

Everything about them is to outsmart and beat each other, but is falling down a cliff a race you really want to win? It is so easy to discuss the consequences with children. The importance of letting some things go in life and how it can actually be healthy and good decisions.

The illustrations are so hilarious. They style of illustration is so well done and the actions and expressions of the turtles are so enriched. The illustrations go hand-in-hand with the text to really bring about meaning.

Absolutely loved this! A funny and engaging story with a lovely message about teamwork and working together. I could easily imagine reading this to my Reception class – I know they would laugh along with the turtles and enjoy joining in with the story. A brilliant reminder that we can achieve more when we help each other. Warm, fun and perfect for young children.

A great, engaging read! I'm a twin and can absolutely see my brother and I having these types of competitions. I even had a fight with a friend once in elementary school over who started the most fights! (Her, of course!) Kids will love the fast-paced action and stunning illustrations, and parents will relate to raising turtles like Frank and Terrance! Parents will also appreciate the lesson in teamwork, and don't be surprised if this is a new favorite read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, I greatly enjoyed it! I will definitely recommend this to my local preschool!

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Two very competitive turtles must work together in order to save themselves from an uncertain death.

Super adorable and nonsensical in just the right way for young readers. The spare illustrations are a good fit - they're whimsical and avoid pulling focus from the characters who are the heart of this story. Most kids can relate to silly competitions between friends. And every kid can see that turtles falling from a high cliff is a problem in need of a solution. Arg! They must work together - even if it means neither really win the contest. (Terrance's declaration of victory is dubious at best!) Kids will see that safety comes first, and there will be time for more for fun and games - and competition - tomorrow.

Humorous, engaging, and relatable. Author Thomas immediately draws the reader in with the proclamation: "Terrence is falling." The second-person narrative structure really works to engage the reader as Terrance and Franks' situation unfolds. The premise is ridiculous, but it's an effective way to discuss the importance of cooperation over competition. Jake A. Minton's illustrations perfectly complement the text and will make kids laugh. I especially appreciate the way some early pages include text or illustrations, but not both. It's an effective way to slow down the action while the author sets the scene for the reader. (Very *record scratch* *freeze frame* "You're probably wondering how I got here.") When I read picture books, I often think about how they'll work as read alouds with the various grade levels I teach. I think Two Turtles is simple and silly enough to appeal to my kindergarten students, but also absurd enough to appeal to my fourth graders.