The Turtle Ship

Written by Helena Ku Rhee · Illustrated by Colleen Kong-Savage

A boy's dream hinges on designing an unsinkable battleship inspired by his pet turtle.

3.9 Goodreads · 191 ratings

32 pages· 1,137 words· Est. 9 min read-aloud· AD700L

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Bookroo's summary

In ancient Korea, young Sun-sin dreams of sailing the world, but poverty stands in his way. When a royal contest seeks the best battleship design, Sun-sin seizes the chance to change his fate. Despite repeated failures, inspiration strikes from an unlikely source—his pet turtle, Gobugi. Can Sun-sin's newfound idea lead to victory and fulfill his dream of sailing the seas? Discover a tale of innovation and determination, loosely based on the legendary Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his iconic Turtle Ship, as Sun-sin navigates challenges to create a battleship that could alter history.

From the publisher

A young Korean boy named Sun-sin designs one of the greatest battleships in history and fulfills his dream of sailing the world. Long ago in Korea, a young boy named Sun-sin spent his days playing with his pet turtle Gobugi and dreaming of sailing around the world. As a poor villager, though, his dream to travel seemed impossible. Then one day, the king’s court announced a contest to find the best design for a new battleship to defend the land from invaders. The winner would sail the ocean with the royal navy.Determined to win, Sun-sin attempts to build an indestructible battleship with a few found items. Each attempt fails miserably against the powerful sea, and with it Sun-sin’s dream also sinks to the bottom. Turning to Gobugi for comfort, Sun-sin notices how his pet turtle is small but mighty, slow but steady, and impossible to sink. Suddenly, Sun-sin has a great idea.Loosely based on the true story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin and his Turtle Ship, this delightful tale by debut author Helena Ku Rhee and debut illustrator Colleen Kong-Savage introduce young readers to a fascinating episode in Korean history and naval engineering.

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