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Item Barcode | Collection | Call Number | Status | Item Holds |
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33607003296079 | Picture Books | CARLE | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Eric Carle's magnificent collage illustrations invite readers and viewers on a breathtaking underwater tour where brilliantly-colored sea creatures dazzle and delight the eye. His modern-day fable is both wise and simple; based on the true habits of the hermit crab, it not only introduces young readers to the wonder and beauty of the marine environment but also contains an encouraging message for small children facing the inevitable challenges of growing up.
Hermit Crab's problem is that he keeps outgrowing things. When he outgrows his first shell-house, he's a bit scared. The next one he finds is big enough -- but depressingly bare. To his happy surprise, all sorts of beautiful and useful undersea neighbors come to his aid and decorate and protect his home. Finally, the new house is perfect but now it, too, has become too small! Once again, Hermit Crab must move on. But this time he is not only bigger -- he is more self confident. While he is sorry to leave his friends and his familiar shell behind, he now sees the future as full of exciting possibilities.
Children who must change schools, move to a new town, or even just be promoted to a higher grade will empathize with Hermit Crab's situation, and will take heart as they see that growing up is not really so alarming after all.
Author Notes
Eric Carle is an award-winning, children's picture book author and illustrator whose most recognized work is The Very Hungry Caterpillar Board Book. Carle was born to German parents in 1929 in Syracuse, New York. The family returned to Germany in 1935, moving to a suburb of Stuttgart. Carle disliked high school, quitting at the age of 16 before graduation. He was admitted as the youngest student to the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, an art school.
After finishing at the Akademie, he worked as a poster designer for the U.S. Information Center in Germany until 1952, when he moved back to New York City. He was a graphic designer at the New York Times and later worked as an art director at L.W. Frohlich & Co. In 1963, Bill Martin, Jr. saw a poster of a red lobster that Carle had designed and asked him to illustrate Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, thus launching his freelance career. Among his many children's books are Dream Snow, Hello, Red Fox, The Very Clumsy Click Beetle, and Pancakes, Pancakes! His title The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse made Publisher's Weekly Best Seller List for 2011. His title Brown Bear Brown Bear What to You See? made The New York Times Best Seller List for 2012. In 2015 he made The New Zealand Best Seller List with Love from the Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Eric Carle, beloved children's book author and illustrator, died on May 23, 2021. He was 91.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Hermit Crab must find a new shell as he has outgrown his other. But the new shell is so plain! Hermit Crab is constantly on the lookout for new possibilities to help dress up his new shell, from a small sea anemone to starfish, coral, and more. Hermit Crab covers his shell with color and makes friends along the way in this well-loved classic. When he finally outgrows his shell once again, Hermit Crab is careful to be sure his friends are cared for and looks forward to meeting new acquaintances. Narrator Will Damron does a nice job bringing this tale to life. His pacing is spot-on, giving young readers the time to enjoy Carle's excellent illustrations without being too sluggish. This read-along presentation includes three tracks-one signals the page turns, a second is a straight reading, and the third presents the definitions from the back of the book. VERDICT Past fans of the story will enjoy exploring it in a new way, and new readers will be drawn into the delightful adventures of Hermit Crab. ["A good solid picture book with many story hour and bibliotherapy possibilities": SLJ 6/88 review of the Picture Book Studio book.]-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
"Hermit Crab moves out of his small shell on the sea floor, in search of a new residence. The pictures are occasionally quite abstract, but always engaging," said PW. Ages 5-8. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved