A Children’s Coastal Adventure Book Series
Join Gert, a curious little sea turtle, as she explores the beaches and ocean life of the South Carolina coast. Through colorful adventures and lovable characters, Gert introduces young readers to early learning concepts like counting, colors, and emotions while fostering curiosity about the natural world.
Awards & Recognition
Explore the Series
Each Gert adventure introduces an early learning concept through coastal scenes, gentle humor, and the original picture-book artwork children remember.
Counting Adventure
Children learn numbers through playful seaside discoveries as Gert encounters dancing crabs, racing sea horses, leaping dolphins, and other ocean friends. Each page introduces counting in a fun and memorable way that builds early math confidence.
Color Discovery
Bright coastal scenes help young readers learn colors. From blue beach buckets on the sand to a bright orange setting sun, children discover the beauty and colors of the seaside along with Gert.
Emotional Learning
Gert experiences emotions like happiness, fear, gratefulness, and forgiveness while exploring all around the beach. This gentle story helps children understand emotional awareness and develop empathy.
Meet Gert
Gert is a curious young loggerhead sea turtle who lives along the beautiful South Carolina coast. While her siblings swim out into the deep ocean, Gert decides to stay by the sea to explore the amazing world around her.
With her “pearls of wisdom” necklace from her mother and her conch shell sailboat, Gert sets out on adventures along the beach where she learns counting, colors, and emotions.
SEE stands for
Through Gert’s adventures, children are encouraged to ask questions, discover nature, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Written & Illustrated By
Coverage & Official Announcements
Independent coverage and official recognition of the Gert the SEE Turtle series.
November 11, 2013 · A regional feature on Maxine Moody Poston and the publication of Gert the SEE Turtle in: Counting.
Read the article Purple Dragonfly Book Awards2014 · Gert the SEE Turtle in: Counting was recognized as an Honorable Mention in the Picture Books 5 & Younger category.
View the official winners list National Indie Excellence® Awards2015 · Gert the SEE Turtle In: Colors, Colors, Everywhere won the Picture Books - Preschool category.
Visit the award organization Royal Dragonfly Book Awards2015 · The second Gert book received an Honorable Mention in Children’s Picture Books 5 & Younger.
View the official winners list National Indie Excellence® AwardsJune 11, 2026 · The official National Indie Excellence® Awards press release announcing the 20th annual winners and finalists.
Read the press release National Indie Excellence® Awards2026 · Gert the SEE Turtle In: Emotions at the Ocean was selected as a finalist in Children’s Fiction Ages 3–8.
View the official finalist listing Purple Dragonfly Book Awards2026 · The third Gert book received an Honorable Mention in the Picture Books 5 & Younger category.
View the official winners list
Follow Along
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