La grande aventure de Cara/Shellie Goes on an Adventure By Melanie Zigman (French/English Hardcover)

When Shellie the turtle falls out of the backyard fountain, she’s thrilled by the chance to
go on an adventure. But her family is worried that she’s lost and has no idea where to
start looking for her!

Shellie Goes on an Adventure is the first book in the Side by Side Books series written
for children ages 0 – 7 years.
These unique books are formatted to tell the same story from two points of view: in this
case from that of the adventurous turtle and of her very worried family.

Side by Side Books are thoughtfully designed to be a powerful educational tool that
helps young children develop empathy, perspective-taking, and emotional
understanding—key components of social-emotional learning. What sets these books
apart is their innovative format: each story is presented from two different perspectives,
with one viewpoint on each side of the open book. This unique layout invites children
and educators to explore the same event or situation through multiple eyes, fostering
deep conversations about emotions, thoughts, and experiences.

What sets these books apart is their innovative format: each story is presented from two different perspectives,
with one viewpoint on each side of the open book. This unique layout invites children
and educators to explore the same event or situation through multiple eyes, fostering
deep conversations about emotions, thoughts, and experiences.

Importantly, the stories are written to be flexible in how they are shared. Educators and
caregivers can choose to read one perspective at a time or present both sides together
as a complete narrative, adapting to the developmental needs of their students and the
specific focus of the lesson. This adaptability makes Side by Side Books a versatile tool
for differentiated instruction and targeted social-emotional learning.

By juxtaposing these perspectives side-by-side, the books encourage children to
recognize both the similarities and differences in how people experience the world. This
helps young readers build critical skills such as empathy, emotional regulation, and
respect for diverse points of view—skills essential for healthy social development and
successful relationships.