This is the story of Painted Shell, a young Abenaki girl. Although she is named for a certain type of turtle, she asks the question "What then IS a turtle"? Living on a mountaintop where there are no turtles, all of her extended family come together to show her just what a turtle is. Written by Abenaki Grandmother Susan Rising Song, this tale incorporates traditional values of respect and compassion for others, along with descriptions of life in an Abenaki community long ago. Monica Alexander, of Mi'kmaq descent, has created illustrations that are not only beautiful, but historically accurate and culturally relevant. Birch bark containers, quillwork, mountains, valleys and of course, turtles decorate these pages.