Once upon a time, author Sandy Gingras read "The Tortoise and the Hare," a fable which teaches that "slow and steady wins the race." But she didn't learn the lesson! Instead she lived the race of hurry-up and do-it-all every day. And it was tiring.

But now, Gingras presents readers with a different kind of lesson from a different kind of turtle in the uplifting miniature book Lessons of a Turtle. And it's a good lesson: Go with the slow! Life is about enjoying what's around you now and finding your own path. It's about the beauty of the journey more than the achievement of the finish line. So be like the turtle . . . notice, savor, bask, risk, grow. Put some life back in your life!

Gingras's charming "turtlism" observations complement her endearing watercolor illustrations. She teaches us about life's little lessons with simple but profound treats like "You can't move forward until you stick your neck out" and "The slower you go, the more you see."

This compact-but-impactful book makes a lovely and inspiring gift for new graduates and anyone ready to face new challenges or begin another chapter in their lives.