A Story of Self-discovery, Persistence, & Friendship for Children Pre-k through 3rd Grade
Little Hannah the hermit crab has outgrown her shell and must find a new one that fits her just right.
Joined by her friend Sophie the shrimp, Hannah goes on a journey throughout her reef in search of the perfect shell.
The two friends encounter a turtle, rock lobster, sea urchin, and seahorse learning why their shells won’t work for Hannah.
Finally, Hannah hears about a place where other hermit crabs are gathering to swiftly swap shells, an imperative given the danger involved. Sophie calls it “the hermit crab shuffle.”
With Sophie by her side, Hannah races to join in on the big shell-swap. Once there, she trusts herself to do something new and finally finds the perfect shell.
This story, written in rhyming prose, is illustrated with a dozen original watercolor paintings (2-page spreads) that encourage new readers to not simply appreciate the word-play set into a story of friendship and self discovery, but also to enjoy the vibrant colors within the art depicting the reef in the warm balmy waters of the Florida Keys.
From start to finish, this tale bolsters word recognition through repetition and develops knowledge and appreciation of the miraculous natural undersea world, as it acknowledges that children treasure and enjoy the beauty of art as much as any adult. As an added bonus, teachers and homeschooling parents can access common core elementary school science and language arts curricula that elaborate on the facts about each sea creature and use the story to teach specific language skills to children.
Check out some Fun Facts on the Extra Resources tab
Available NOW for only $15.00
Books available now. To order your copy, please fill out the form below. You will receive an invoice via email that can be paid with a credit or debit card, or a PayPal or Venmo account. Your invoice will be totaled based on number of books ordered and shipping method chosen.
Shipping costs depends on weight and distance; media mail with tracking and insurance $3.00 (single book) to $3.50 (2 or more books across the country); first class shipping for a single book begins at $2.20 (two books across the country for $3.00; no tracking). For 4 or more books, priority flat rate at $7.75 may be most economical.
Please note that the contact system is not an automated bot; you will get a return email confirming your order when I check my email.
Educator’s Reviews
As an elementary school teacher, The Hermit Crab Shuffle offers an entryway for discussions with my students on topics like social connectedness and interdependence as well as pushing through the fear of stepping out of your comfort zone. It dovetails nicely with a growth-mindset approach, which is a central tenet of my curriculum. The breathtaking illustrations don’t hurt either!” Dylan Cline (Teacher, Menlo Park, California)
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book! I could see any teacher being able to read it and find at least 10 ways to teach reading/writing or science easily. [And] the social-emotional value of the book …the kindness, friendship and caring are all things that the teacher could use to model what “friends” are and do for one another. It is full of ideas to create/extend lessons. Julie Klein, Director of Curriculum & Instruction Pre-K-5, Lowndes County School System (Georgia)
The illustrations are amazing. Children can identify and relate to feelings throughout the entire story. Children learn about rhyming in kindergarten, and it is found on just about each and every page. Repetition of sentences is used so that children can repeat what’s about to be read. Predictions about how the story will end can be taught as well as sequencing the story. I could go on and on about how this story could be used in a classroom. It’s beautiful! Debbie Freeman, Kindergarten teacher with 3 decades of experience (retired)
The Hermit Crab Shuffle is a fabulous story of courage, perseverance, and being able to ask for help when we need it- skills needed by both children and adults alike! The beautiful illustrations bring this fun and delightful story to life! – Melody Marzulli Ott, LCSW, school counselor; licensed psychotherapist at wellbeingstaugustine.com specializing in work with children, adolescents, and families for over 20 years (Florida)
I really enjoyed reading your new book the The Hermit Crab Shuffle, a story about change, friendship, and challenges as we travel through life. The artwork of course is wonderful. I took time on each page to see all the tiniest details. One of the strongest features about the text is the repeated phrases. This is a good leveled reader for 2nd through 5th grade. The repeating, allows for comprehension and fluency development through familiar words. I also like the soft environmental habitat and species introductions throughout the story. Over-all it was a pleasure to read.
Melinda Rossman M.A., Principal & Lead Teacher, The Homeschool Academy, Lake Pend Orielle School District 84, Sandpoint, Idaho
I love this heartwarming book about a little hermit crab named Hannah who had outgrown her shell; it’s a sweet story of friendship and adventure. Barbara uses repetition and rhyming to help the story with predictability. This always helps young readers. I could see my young kindergarteners wanting to chime in with me as I read the repetitive phrases.
There’s a lot of great vocabulary that I would pull out during my Ocean Unit of study. There are great visual for the children to understand the process. I would also use this book to teach about ocean creatures and to practice predicting and visualizing. Students of all ages would enjoy this book. The illustrations are beautiful, the language was easy to read, easy to predict, and children always love an adventure! I know my students would love to go on this adventure with Hannah and Sophie!
Lisa Boone, Kindergarten Teacher with experience in K-1st grades for over 20 years