Old Shell, New Shell: Coral

I love when authors illustrate their own books. Helen Ward's illustrations are top-notch (there is a notation in the back giving the names of all the plants and animals in the illustrations). Great information on coral reefs, too.

I know this book is out of print but sometimes it is available on the secondary market. This is an amazing book. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is simple. It's about a hermit crab who outgrows his shell and goes looking for a new one. My kids loved this when they were babies and they still love it...at six and three years old. I love it too. Helen Ward is an amazing illustrator and she identifies all of the creatures pictured in this book and tells a little bit about them. It's educational and beautiful.

The illustrations are what caught my eye with this book about a hermit crab's quest to find a new home. The cover shown above gives you an idea of the detailed artwork within. At the end of the book are line drawings explaining the various plants and animals that live in a coral reef. My 7 yo daughter has been enjoying this book for a couple of years now. A nice simple story.

Hermit crab loves his shell but he's outgrown it - he sets out to seek a replacement but finds only another crab with the same problem. Very simple text and large color illustrations of coral reef life accompany a story of problem-solving and change.