Gladys the Turtle

When Gladys was a young turtle, she felt free to be herself, and she was happy! But one day a group of turtles she'd just met said something that hurt her feelings, and she wasn't happy anymore. Instead, she built a thick shell to protect herself from everyone else and the things they might say about her. But the shell was heavy and made it hard to do the things she loved, like jumping rope and playing in the stream. Gladys began to wonder—what was more important? Being safe from hurt feelings, or being happy and free?

A beautifully illustrated, imaginative story where young children will learn about bullying and the harmful effects it can have on others. The story of Gladys the Turtle shows why it is important to be kind, careful about what you say and do, and how to react if you become a target of bullies. When Gladys was a young turtle, she felt free to be herself, and she was happy! But one day a group of turtles she'd just met said something that hurt her feelings, and she wasn't happy anymore. Instead, she built a thick shell to protect herself from everyone else and the things they might say about her. But the shell was heavy and made it hard to do the things she loved, like jumping rope and playing in the stream. Gladys began to wonder—what was more important? Being safe from hurt feelings, or being happy and free?

Jack Skeen is a coach for executives, entrepreneurs and high performers across the United States. He has the unique gift of understanding people's uniqueness and guiding it toward the surface. He decided to write Gladys the Turtle to help children retain the innocence and freedom of childhood as long as possible. He also co-authored "The Circle Blueprint", a guide for adults who want to discover their greatness.