CCBC (Cooperative Children's Book Center Choices 2008)
Turtle is in a hurry. “I’m off to see something red red red.” Everyone he encounters wonders what it could be. Mrs. Raccoon’s red roses? Fox’s red roof? Captain Dog’s red ship? Each animal’s guess is wrong, and as curiosity grows so, too, does the parade of citizens following Turtle to his unknown destination. Young children will be delighted by the growing suspense in author/illustrator Valeri Gorbachev’s simple, satisyfying story. What is Turtle rushing to see? They’ll also be eager to shout out everything red that is revealed with the turn of each page. And like Turtle and his followers, they’ll delight in the resolution when Turtle’s journey comes to an end on a hill overlooking a glorious sunset. Red, red, red indeed. CCBC Category: Picture Books for Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers. 2007, Philomel, 40 pages, $16.99. Ages 3-6.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, January 15, 2007 (Vol. 75, No. 2))
As Gorbachev’s story opens, the day is coming to a close. Turtle is rushing through town, rushing as fast as is possible for a natty turtle in a striped sailor’s jersey and a floppy summer chapeau. A turtle rushing, of course, attracts attention. The locals want to know what’s up. But Turtle is only admitting to “Red, red, red.” Raccoon wants to know if he means her roses, or maybe Goat’s socks, or perhaps Fox’s red roof. No, no and no—so they each cumulatively fall in line behind Turtle to get the skinny on his strange behavior. It’s a merry band, measured with just the right amount of oomph in Gorbachev’s color-soaked art. It doesn’t matter that Turtle has enough breath to tell his interlocutors that all their guesses are wrong, but not enough to tell them where they are headed. He’s just deepening the mystery, keeping them guessing to keep them—and his readers—in his thrall. 2007, Philomel, 32p, $16.99. Category: Picture book. Ages 5 to 7. © 2007 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Hope Morrison (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, June 2007 (Vol. 60, No. 10))
Turtle hurries through town on his way “to see something red, red, red,” and his speed and resolve have attracted the attention of many neighbors, who try without success to guess at Turtle’s object. Following Turtle to see what he’s after, the neighbors are bewildered when they come to a grassy hillside with nothing red in sight . . . that is, until the sunset fills the sky with a deep sanguine glow, and “all of them turn to enjoy it.” Though the story is pretty mild, this color-filled adventure is appealing on lots of levels: Turtle’s cryptic quest provides mystery, the neighborly offering of red-colored objects provides opportunities for audience participation, and the cumulative nature of the story provides patterning for young listeners. The illustrative presentation of the animal-filled neighborhood is reminiscent of Richard Scarry, with each creature attending to his or her own home or business amid the flurry of community activity. Gorbachev’s signature line-and-watercolor art is lively and energetic, with casually hatched detail adding texture and a bright palette of paints (including lots of red) contributing to the story’s dynamism. This would serve as a launching pad for a creative writing project wherein different colors were substituted for the red; it is also a sweet readaloud in its own right, and young listeners will enjoy predicting Turtle’s goal. Review Code: R -- Recommended. (c) Copyright 2006, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2007, Philomel, 40p., $16.99. Ages 3-6 yrs.

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2007)
Turtle says he's "off to see something red, red, red" and a growing crowd follows him. Repetition lends the story a nice rhythm and encourages participation. Gorbachev's pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations reflect the genial mood. Finally, Turtle and his entourage arrive at the top of a hill and a well-placed page-turn adds to the drama of the denouement: a breathtaking sunset. Category: Picture Books. 2007, Philomel, 40pp, 16.99. Ages 4 to 9. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average.