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Table of Contents
About The Book
From the creator of While You’re Asleep comes a hilarious pourquoi story about a burrowing tortoise and her mouse best friend—as well as mishaps, misunderstandings, and the friendships you make along the way.
Tortoise and Mouse are more than just friends and burrowmates. They are best friends and best burrowmates. When their home gets flooded, however, it’s up to Tortoise to dig them a new place to live. And so she digs a room of her own and a room for Mouse. But where is Mouse?
Noticing the fresh burrow, Bunny asks Tortoise if she could dig a room for her as well. Then the Spotted Skunk. The Mole Skinks. And the Wolf Spider, the Frog, and those moths…So Tortoise digs. Seemingly everyone else wants to be her burrowmate except for Mouse—where did she go?
Tortoise and Mouse are more than just friends and burrowmates. They are best friends and best burrowmates. When their home gets flooded, however, it’s up to Tortoise to dig them a new place to live. And so she digs a room of her own and a room for Mouse. But where is Mouse?
Noticing the fresh burrow, Bunny asks Tortoise if she could dig a room for her as well. Then the Spotted Skunk. The Mole Skinks. And the Wolf Spider, the Frog, and those moths…So Tortoise digs. Seemingly everyone else wants to be her burrowmate except for Mouse—where did she go?
About The Author
Photograph by Lori Morgan Gottschling
Emmy Kastner is an author and illustrator of children’s books. A former high school teacher, Emmy taught English and science in San Francisco. Upon moving back to Michigan, she cofounded the youth writing center Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK). RAWK is devoted to celebrating and amplifying youth voices through the cultivation of reading and writing skills via joy, creativity, equity, and access. Emmy lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with her husband and three kids, their dog, and two cats. She spends most days writing and making art in her studio above her family’s coffee shop.
About The Illustrator
Photograph by Lori Morgan Gottschling
Emmy Kastner is an author and illustrator of children’s books. A former high school teacher, Emmy taught English and science in San Francisco. Upon moving back to Michigan, she cofounded the youth writing center Read and Write Kalamazoo (RAWK). RAWK is devoted to celebrating and amplifying youth voices through the cultivation of reading and writing skills via joy, creativity, equity, and access. Emmy lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with her husband and three kids, their dog, and two cats. She spends most days writing and making art in her studio above her family’s coffee shop.
Why We Love It
“So Tortoise Dug is sweeter, with a more classic feeling than While You’re Asleep, making the book an instant comfort read. With Emmy Kastner’s signature, kid-friendly sense of humor and adorable art, this is one that kids will surely enjoy reading over and over again.”
—Celia L. Executive Editor, on So Tortoise Dug
Product Details
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (May 14, 2025)
- Length: 48 pages
- ISBN13: 9781665931359
- Ages: 4 - 8
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): So Tortoise Dug Hardcover 9781665931359
- Author Photo (jpg): Emmy Kastner Photograph by Lori Morgan Gottschling(0.1 MB)
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