Pearls in the Sand: Protecting Sea Turtles in Oaxaca, written and illustrated by Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez. Godwin Books, Henry Holt, Macmillan. Raincoast, 2025. $24.99 ages 6 and up

 

"Tortugueros treasure the eggs;
each one is precious, like a 
pearl. Papa Grande explains
that too much movement 
could harm them. One 
tremble and a life is lost. We
must be careful but quick."

We are getting closer to celebrating Grandparents' Day next Sunday. This story tells how Gabriela and her Papa Grande work together on a conservation mission to save and protect sea turtles in their community. It begins at night as the two find their way to the beach where her grandfather and other tortugueros work tirelessly to care for the turtles and their survival. Papa Grande, once a turtle hunter and egg poacher, could no longer make a living when hunting was banned. Now, he works with those who understand the need for the survival of those same turtles. 

This is the first time that Gabriela has accompanied her grandfather. Together, they watch a mother turtle find a spot to lay her eggs. Without disturbing her, Papa Grande reaches out to collect her eggs and then transport them to a safe shelter. As they gather those eggs, they keep count and her grandfather keeps notes about the nidada (the eggs laid by this one turtle); the cooperative has now rescued one thousand of them. 

They must work quickly and carefully to ensure the safety of the eggs. At the hatchery, they will be transplanted to a new nest. Details are recorded to identify the date, type of turtle, and the rescuers. The work continues every day. Papa Grande explains the importance of the turtles in the ecosystem and other important facts as they work. The two are there when the tiny turtles emerge from the sand, and sprint to the shore. 

"Tortugueros say only one in a thousand 
babies make it to adulthood. There are 
dangers hiding outside our reach. From 
this small corner, tortugueros do what 
they can with what they have."

The author shows readers how these conservation experts have helped to ensure that the sea turtle populations increase. Her acrylic gouache and colored pencil artwork complements the text with clear images of the work being done. Backmatter provides an extensive glossary, the life cycle of sea turtles, a captioned map of the Oaxacan Coast, an author's note that speaks of her own personal experience with and curiosity about the turtles. Acknowledgements are included along with a list of additional resources to bring the book to an end.