A story to share together
Finley the Turtle’s Super Speed Secret
A determined little sea turtle learns that the secret to swimming faster lies in proper technique, practice, and believing in oneself.
Page 1
Deep in the shimmering blue ocean, Finley the Turtle watched a school of silver fish zip past him. He tried to keep up, but his little flippers could not move fast enough. He sighed and looked at his heavy shell.
Page 2
Suddenly, a bright yellow seahorse named Sami drifted over to him. She saw Finley looking discouraged and blew her tiny whistle to get his attention. Sami was the best swim coach in the entire coral reef.
Page 3
Sami told Finley that speed was not just about strength. To swim faster, he needed to learn the secret of the glide. She showed him how to tuck his chin and point his flippers straight ahead like an arrow.
Page 4
Finley tried to glide, but he kept wiggling his tail too much. He splashed and tumbled through the bubbles until he felt very dizzy. Swimming fast was much harder than it looked in the picture books.
Page 5
Sami swam down to help him stand up on the sandy floor. She explained that his flippers were like powerful oars on a boat. He had to pull the water back with long, smooth strokes instead of short splashes.
Page 6
They practiced for many hours near the giant purple anemones. Finley focused on his breathing and his form. With every stroke, he felt himself cutting through the water more easily than he ever had before.
Page 7
Next, Sami taught Finley about the power of the kick. She told him to use his strong back legs to push off the water. Finley kicked hard and felt a sudden burst of speed that made him giggle.
Page 8
The big race day finally arrived at the Great Reef. All the sea creatures gathered to watch the event. Finley felt nervous, but he remembered everything Sami had taught him about his flippers and his glide.
Page 9
The whistle blew and Finley took off like a green rocket. He kept his body straight and his strokes long. He passed the tuna and the trout, feeling the cool water rush past his happy face.
Page 10
Finally, Finley crossed the finish line first and everyone cheered for the speedy turtle. He realized that practice and patience were the real secrets to success. And from that day on, Finley was the fastest turtle in the sea!
