There Might Be Lobsters

by Carolyn Crimi (Author) Laurel Molk (Illustrator)

There Might Be Lobsters
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
Come on, Sukie, you can do it! A little dog's paralyzing anxiety gives way to bravery when someone smaller is in need in this humorous, tenderly sympathetic story. Lots of things at the beach scare Sukie. Lots. Because she is just a small dog, and the stairs are big and sandy, and the waves are big and whooshy, and the balls are big and beachy. And besides, there might be lobsters. With endearing illustrations and a perfectly paced text that captures a timid pup's looping thoughts, here is a funny and honest read-aloud about how overwhelming the world can be when you're worried -- and how empowering it is to overcome your fears when it matters the most.
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$18.99

School Library Journal

PPreS-Gr 2--Sukie is afraid of the beach. She is only a little dog, and the beach has big whooshy waves and big beachy beach balls--and, worst of all, there might be lobsters. Sukie's beguiling, spot-on puppy anxiety sets the stage for a delightful romp as she lays out her fears in a mounting pile of italic text that begs to be read aloud; each of her internal monologues ends with her fretting about the dreaded lobster ("and she might tumble down on her head,/and then she'd need stitches,/and, besides, there might be lobsters"). Eleanor, Sukie's exuberant young human companion, tries to convince her to explore the beach, to no avail. Only when Sukie's toy monkey Chunka Munka floats off to sea does Sukie dare to brave the waves and the lobsters that may lie beneath them. Sukie's concerns are distinctly doggy--"she might get a shell stuck up her nose"--yet they will resonate with children who have experienced fear of the unknown. In Molk's watercolor and ink illustrations, great swaths of sand and sky set off the humor of Sukie's beleaguered expression and tongue-in-cheek details such as the image of a lobster on a beach bag. VERDICT Charming illustrations combine seamlessly with the text to create a seasonal treat as refreshing as ice cream with sprinkles on a day at the beach. Perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.--Anna Stover, Poughkeepsie Day School, NY

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

In Crimi's reassuring story, a little black-and-white dog, Sukie, has an ocean-size fear of the beach: the big sandy stairs, the big salty waves and — especially — lobsters...Molk's loose-limbed art in salt-water-taffy hues sets a sunny-day mood perfect for conquering bugaboos.
—The New York Times Book Review

There's ample humor in the watercolor, acrylic, and ink illustrations and heaping doses of compassion, too. Sly inclusions of lobsters in the details, in particular, will provoke readers' laughter as they cheer on Sukie and applaud Eleanor's pluck and patience. Just "beachy."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

This charming story shows how fear can hold us back, and how love can save the day...The illustrations, done in watercolor, acrylic, and pen-and-ink, beautifully capture the feel of the seaside. Crimi's latest is a warm-hearted lesson in how to overcome paralyzing fears by putting others first.
—Booklist

This might promote some empathy in bold kids who scoff at the timid as well as some reassurance for the uncertain beachgoer, and it could lead to a rousing discussion of overcoming fears.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

In Molk's watercolor and ink illustrations, great swaths of sand and sky set off the humor of Sukie's beleaguered expression and tongue-in-cheek details such as the image of a lobster on a beach bag. Charming illustrations combine seamlessly with the text to create a seasonal treat as refreshing as ice cream with sprinkles on a day at the beach. Perfect for one-on-one and small group sharing.
—School Library Journal

When Chunka Munka is washed out by the tide, however, Sukie puts aside her fears—including the possibility of encountering lobsters in the ocean—to rescue him.
—Literacy Daily

A perfectly rendered story about facing one's fears and the good feelings that ensue in overcoming them, There Might Be Lobsters is a lighthearted look at an important topic.
—Repository (from Kendal Rautzhan's "Books to Borrow")
Carolyn Crimi
Carolyn Crimi has published over a dozen picture books, including Boris and Bella (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), Where's My Mummy? (Candlewick), and Pugs in a Bug (Penguin). She lives in Evanston, IL. Find out more about Carolyn here: carolyncrimi.com.

Marisa Morea is a freelance illustrator based in Madrid, Spain. She's been working as an illustrator since graduating with an MA in Illustration from Eina School in Barcelona in 2009.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780763675424
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
May 20, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
Library of Congress categories
Dogs
Beaches
Stuffed animals (Toys)
Fear
Fear in children

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