The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell

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Pub Date Aug 08 2022 | Archive Date Nov 27 2022
Seatales Publishing Company | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

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Description

A hermit crab has outgrown her perfect, swirly new shell. A hungry octopus is interested. Will the hermit crab be willing to swap her favorite shell for a bigger, safer one before it’s too late? Come along on this rhyming hermit crab adventure!

This is Petrie’s fourth picture book in her award-winning Seatales Sea Animal Series. Each book in this series is rhythmic and rhyming, with brightly colored illustrations that bring to life authentic tales of what really happens at the edge of the sea. Petrie’s books are perfect for ages three through ten, but most adults are surprised at how much they learn from reading these stories, too!

A hermit crab has outgrown her perfect, swirly new shell. A hungry octopus is interested. Will the hermit crab be willing to swap her favorite shell for a bigger, safer one before it’s too late?...


A Note From the Publisher

Illustrated by Janice S. C. Petrie

Hardcover ISBN 9x12: 978-1-7330517-2-9
Paperback ISBN 8.5 x 11: 978-1-7330517-4-3
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-7330517-3-6
Hardcover ISBN 8.5 x 11: 978-1-7330517-5-0

Illustrated by Janice S. C. Petrie

Hardcover ISBN 9x12: 978-1-7330517-2-9
Paperback ISBN 8.5 x 11: 978-1-7330517-4-3
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-7330517-3-6
Hardcover ISBN 8.5 x 11: 978-1-7330517-5-0


Advance Praise

A Kirkus Starred Review:

"A sea story with a solid message, fanciful rhymes, and engaging characters. . .

Petrie’s full-color cartoon illustrations mix realistic detail with friendly facial expressions; the octopus hiding on almost every page makes for an excellent seek-and-find. The main text reads smoothly throughout, but the thought-bubble commentary from fish witnessing the crab’s difficulties is the story’s highlight. They offer fast facts about hermit crabs while amusingly reacting to the protagonist’s adventures.”

“In this upbeat picture book a hermit crab helps children explore how to let go and grow. Detailed and colorful, Petrie’s illustrations cleverly bring this story to life and allow kids to feel a sense of compassion for the hermit crab, which may be an unfamiliar creature to many. With her rhyming prose and obvious love of sea life, Petrie has created a playful and exciting underwater world that children will be eager to revisit.”
BookLife Review

The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell is an informative picture book about a young hermit crab who learns to accept change and let go of outgrown treasures. Written in flowing rhymes, this lighthearted story also delivers educational information about sea creatures. Detailed and colorful, the illustrations keep the particulars of sea life in mind with their renderings of the hermit crab, her fellow creatures, and the terrain of the ocean floor. The octopus is a stealthy presence here, too, and young readers will have fun searching it out as it camouflages itself in the surrounding habitat.”
Clarion Review

The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell is a rhyming adventure, with brightly colored illustrations that bring to life authentic tales of what really happens with hermit crabs at the edge of the sea.

Critique: Fun and informative, The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell is an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library Marine Life picture book collections for children ages 3-10.”
Midwest Book Review

“A hermit crab struggles to part with a ‘perfect’ shell—even when it no longer fits—in this science-focused rhyming picture book from author-illustrator Petrie.

An unnamed crab has trouble finding a new shell after outgrowing her old one. One day, during a storm, a seemingly ideal home appears: a swirly, white moon snail shell, complete with stylish decorations, including barnacles and anemones that will protect the crab from predators. The rhyming text relates her joy: ‘The shell was as perfect as perfect could be. / How lucky to find such a shell in the sea!’ But despite its perfection, it can’t grow with her. Before long, the beautiful carapace is just slowing her down—until one day, an octopus scares her out of it and into a new one. Petrie’s full-color cartoon illustrations mix realistic detail with friendly facial expressions; the octopus hiding on almost every page makes for an excellent seek-and-find. The main text reads smoothly throughout, but the thought-bubble commentary from fish witnessing the crab’s difficulties is the story’s highlight. They offer fast facts about hermit crabs while amusingly reacting to the protagonist’s adventures. The ample ocean-creature terminology (exoskeleton, anemones) will challenge newly independent readers, and the interesting topic will provide encouragement.

A sea story with a solid message, fanciful rhymes, and engaging characters.”
Kirkus Reviews

A Kirkus Starred Review:

"A sea story with a solid message, fanciful rhymes, and engaging characters. . .

Petrie’s full-color cartoon illustrations mix realistic detail with friendly facial...



Average rating from 14 members


Featured Reviews

I LOVED THIS SO MUCH! Such a fun book, love the drawings, the cute fish telling hermit crab facts, the information at the end and the sweet story. Definitely recommended for kids interested in sea creatures. I'm happy that invertebrates are featured more and more in children's stories, they have been underrepresented for a long time!

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This book was so cute! Loved that the illustrations looked like a TV cartoon and the educational tidbits would be really fun for families that have a pet hermit crab. However even for families that don’t, I think the message about the necessity for change and growth was really beautiful. Would be great for kids going through a transition to better understand the importance of change and why it is a good thing. Definitely recommend!

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The fourth book in Petrie's Seatales Sea Animals series centres around a spirited hermit crab who outgrows her beloved shell and has to find another! Whilst initially reluctant to move on from her special swirly shell, she soon realises she will be much safer in a bigger one and accepts sometimes change is for the best.

Petrie's own passion for the sea shines in this engaging story that encourages compassion and understanding towards sea animals, as children will relate and empathize with the fear of change as they find themselves growing out of their clothes, shoes and classrooms!

Combining an enjoyable rhyming scheme with full colour expressive illustrations, fascinating facts and humourous characters, this book is perfect for young readers and adults alike.

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what a nice story, an interesting way to get to know about hermit crabs. there's even trivial things happened behind the main story, and while it's not really affecting the plot, it's fun to notice them. there's further more-detailed explanation about hermit crab and octopus at the end of the story. i loved it.

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What a fun and educational children’s book! We really enjoyed learning about the hermit crab and the similarities between hermit crabs and octopus’s. I had no clue they could inhabit any type of shell and while my young daughter isn’t old enough to grasp all that we learned in the book, there’s something in the book for children (and adults) for all ages!

The illustrations are colorful and eye catching, and the little chat bubbles of information from the other sea creatures were some of the best parts of the book. Would recommend to anyone looking for buy a fun children’s book for a loved one!

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