The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell

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