The Runaway Tortoise
Published on 9. April 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
104 pages
978-0-00-879701-0 (ISBN)
Description
When Albert makes a daring escape, Ava realises that tortoises might not be quite as boring as they seem in this gentle animal story from worldwide bestseller Holly Webb.
Ava thinks that Albert, her 45-year-old tortoise, is the most boring pet ever. She can't take him for walks or even cuddle him!
But when Auntie Grace's dog frightens Albert with all his barking, Ava comes home from school to find a great big hole under the fence - and no Albert!
Now that he's gone, Ava realises just how much she loves her tortoise. Will she be able to track Albert down and bring him home?
Ava thinks that Albert, her 45-year-old tortoise, is the most boring pet ever. She can't take him for walks or even cuddle him!
But when Auntie Grace's dog frightens Albert with all his barking, Ava comes home from school to find a great big hole under the fence - and no Albert!
Now that he's gone, Ava realises just how much she loves her tortoise. Will she be able to track Albert down and bring him home?
Reviews / Votes
"When Albert makes his escape, Ava realises that she really loves her tortoise after all in this gentle animal adventure from Webb, published as part of the Little Gems range of first chapter books." - The Bookseller"Enjoy having your heartstrings well and truly tugged ... Packed with heartwarming storytelling, beautiful artwork and fun activities, this is the perfect early chapter book for all animal fans and youngsters taking the first steps on the path to reading independence." - Burnley Express
"This is such a sweet and gentle story, full of little moments that keep young readers hooked while still feeling calm and reassuring ... Perfect for developing independence for readers that need to bridge between picture and chapter books. A lovely step up that still feels reassuring and accessible!" - What The Teacher Reads, blog
"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." - Scope for Imagination, blog
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
HarperCollins Publishers
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 5 years
Product notice
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
20 col illus
Dimensions
Height: 126 mm
Width: 168 mm
Thickness: 11 mm
Weight
146 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-00-879701-0 (9780008797010)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Persons
Holly Webb is an internationally bestselling children's author of over 150 titles, spanning picture books, chapter books and middle-grade fiction, and her work has been translated into over 30 languages. She is an instantly recognisable, much-loved voice, best known for her Animal Stories series, which has sold over 1 million copies in the UK alone.