Why are Crabs Crabby? And Picture Books on Crabs
Does this crab not look like it should be in an animated cartoon?
I found this crab on vacation in Florida. He or she could have easily been a she-crab, RULED the beach that day. The crab seemed completely nonplussed that humans were around and, as I stared it down, I actually thought it was dead. Not so, just winning the staring contest apparently.
The crab’s hole in the ground was not even near it. There were birds everywhere too. This crab, I tell you, was completely fearless. I finally got it to move, thus proving that it was alive, by practically poking it with a stick.
My first impression (besides the dead crab) of the crab was that it looked EXACTLY like Sebastian the Crab from the Disney movie Ariel. What do you think? Do you see the likeness? Perhaps it’s not a dead ringer, per se, but there is a charisma that is similar. No?
So I started researching crabs in children’s literature. Are they all portrayed in a negative light? Is there anti-crabs going on? Is there justification for these crimes against crabs?
Crabs in Picture Books
Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
Perhaps our crab friend was traveling from a tide pool to the ocean as well.
Little Crab goes with Big Crab to the big ocean but the waves are huge and Little Crab is scared. The waves keep coming, bringing the crabs down, down, down to the ocean floor. It’s so much fun that Little Crab doesn’t want to leave! [picture book, ages 2 and up]
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
This classic from beloved children’s author Eric Carle portrays Hermit Crab as a sad creature losing his first buddies who live in his shell.
Poor Hermit Crab! He’s outgrown his snug little shell, so he finds himself a larger one — and many new friends to decorate and protect his new house. But what will happen when he outgrows this shell and has to say goodbye to all the sea creatures who have made Hermit Crab’s house a home? [picture book, ages 2 and up]
Kermit the Hermit by Bill Peet
Bill Peet is a beloved and prolific children’s book author from my youth. Could he be the culprit in spreading the anti-Crab message that crabs are cranky? His PR machine was so effective that it is exactly what we think of ALL crabs.
A little boy saves Kermit from disaster, and the once cranky crab works hard to repay him.
When a little boy saves Kermit the crab’s life he rewards the boy’s family with gold pieces he found in the sea. [picture book, ages 4 and up]
B is for Blue Crab by Shirley Menendez
I think Shirley means D is for Dinner and that means you Blue Crab!
Located just below the Mason-Dixon line, Maryland is flavored with both northern and southern culture and tradition. Defined by the largest estuary in the United States (The Chesapeake Bay), Maryland’s historic sites/sights include the capital city Annapolis and the U.S Naval Academy, Muddy Creek Falls, and the running of the Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. Noteworthy residents include Harriet Tubman and Francis Scott Key. [picture book, ages 6 and up]
Now that I’ve alerted you to the egregious crimes against crabs, I hope you will join me in promoting a new message of happy, well-educated, spunky crabs such as Sebastian the Crab. They are not just dinner folks. If you see a crab, don’t poke it with a stick (like I almost did). If you do, you are provoking the crab into a cranky state of mind!
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The Traveling Taco:
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We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
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Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
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Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
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girl, i would have been scared to be that close to it! you are one brave woman! i definitely won’t be eating crap (allergic to shellfish – haha) I’m just a crab seems perfect for my boy. we were at the fish market yesterday and they have live crabs and he thought they were turtles. eh, he’s 3.
To Vanita,
I should have been more cautious but I thought the crab was dead at first. It was eerie how it stared me down. Your little boy sounds adorable! He must love the pet store! My kids treat it like it’s their own personal zoo.
I love the picture! She does look like one tough cookie, er, crab! I love this post. A great way to start my day!
To Dee,
Thanks so much! She stands her ground like nobody’s business! Glad it made you smile!
This post made me smile! Great photo – she is so cute! We love A House For Hermit Crab and I want to check out the Horseshoe crab book!
To Ann,
Thanks so much! We both love the same things!
I love the idea of pausing to consider the attributes we wrongly assign to many animals because of all sorts of old stories…
To Mama C,
I know. I was kind of posting in jest, but truly, the way animals are portrayed in children’s lit affected the wolves who faced near extinction after also getting a bad rap.