Crabs

Children's Literature

Walking along a nighttime beach, exploring the shore during low tide, or picking up shells are all good ways to encounter crabs. But did you know that many crabs live on land and could just as easily be found on top of a cactus or climbing a tree? Young readers who are fascinated with these prickly critters can learn more in this book, part of the "Creatures of the Sea" series. Filled with colorful photo illustrations and easy-to-read text, the book includes chapters on life cycles, land and sea crabs, finding and becoming food and crab habitats. Readers cannot help but marvel about how adaptable and diverse these arthropods really are. For instance, spider crabs hide themselves by covering their carapaces with bits of seaweed, sponges or other materials that make it blend in with its surroundings. If it moves to a new spot, it discards its coverings in favor of materials that enable it to blend with its new digs. Coconut crabs are named after their favorite food, and they can use their strong claws to crack coconut shells to reach the food inside. These crabs are also called robber crabs because they have been known to steal people's belongings and drag the loot back to their burrows. Equally interesting are pea crabs that are tiny enough to live inside mussels and oysters. A great little book about a remarkable animal, the volume includes websites for further exploration, an index and glossary. 2003, KidHaven Press, Ages 7 to 10.
—Judy Crowder