Wild Magic: Escape of the Sea Turtles

At a glance

Misha and Ziggy are rather special twins. Misha can talk to animals and Ziggy can shapeshift into them! Dad is an expert on wildlife and makes films. He proposes the twins and their grandparents join him on his next assignment to film sea turtles, returning to the beach where they were born to lay their own eggs – in Mexico. We learn about Mexican food, festivals and their way of life along the way. When they reach their destination, there are no turtles but the twins end up finding a sea turtle. The turtle tells Misha that the turtles are trapped in nets and plastic waste beneath the ocean and need rescuing. Sea pollution is addressed in many ways. Ziggy shapeshifts into a turtle then a barracuda so that he can chew through the nets and plastic and save the turtles. Dad gets to make his film, the grandparents have a wonderful time and the twins keep their secret of their magical powers.

I loved this little book – fun, geographical, environmental as well as imparting knowledge and sending strong messages to children. I don’t know if studying Mexico is still on the curriculum but I would have loved this book as a class reader. Great illustrations and a magical read.

Published by Simon & Schuster, 2026