Nellie’s Big Splash

Nellie is a tiny, newly hatched sea turtle who is afraid of crashing ocean waves. When all of her fellow hatchlings immediately head for the sea, Nellie is too afraid to join them. Instead, she tries to flee her fears by climbing up the beach and onto a rock. While Nellie is above the awful crashing, she realizes how lonely she is for the other hatchlings and that she is still afraid. Going home to the sea is the only answer. Crawling to the edge of the rock, she sees the beauty of the sea beyond the scary shoreline. Nellie looks inside herself to find the courage to dive into the unknown, where she instantly finds her siblings waiting for her.

Cori Doerrfeld has created an absolutely beautiful picture book, both in terms of message and illustration. Nellie’s journey in facing her fears will resonate with many children. The gentle style of illustration complements the tender message of the text perfectly. Doerrfeld even manages to convey her story through the interesting vehicle of a sea turtle’s early life.

Nellie’s Big Splash is a charming book with a heartening message.