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A House for Hermit Crab
A House for Hermit Crab
A House for Hermit Crab
Audiobook13 minutes

A House for Hermit Crab

Written by Eric Carle

Narrated by John McDonough

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

Hermit Crab lives in a little shell house on the ocean floor. Wherever he crawls, he carries the shell on his back. He feels safe and snug in his cozy house. But in January, the shell begins to feel tight. Hermit Crab steps out of his safe house into the open sea. Without his shell, the ocean floor seems frightening. Large, hungry fish swim all around. When Hermit Crab finds a bigger, empty shell, he wiggles into it. It feels just right. But it's so plain. Will he ever feel at home in his new house? Popular children's author and illustrator Eric Carle captivates young readers with this delightful tale of a young crab growing up. With the available print and audio book combination, youngsters will enjoy seeing the beauty of Hermit Crab as he changes and the amazing ocean world around him. Narrator John McDonough provides the perfect voice for the young crab as he increases both in size and self-confidence.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 3, 2014
ISBN9781490657646
A House for Hermit Crab
Author

Eric Carle

Eric Carle (1929-2021) was one of America’s leading children’s book illustrators and authors. Author of more than seventy books, his picture book career started when Bill Martin Jr invited him to create the illustrations for Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? That book that went on to sell millions of copies worldwide and Eric soon began writing and illustrating his own books, eventually creating the bestselling classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Born in the United States, Eric also spent many of his early years in Germany where he studied typography and graphic art at the Academy of Applied Art in Stuttgart. Carle was the recipient of many honors including the American Library Association’s Children’s Literature Legacy Award and the Original Art Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Illustrators. In addition to writing and illustrating books of his own, he also collaborated on several others, including Bill Martin Jr's Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?, Isaac Bashevis Singer’s Why Noah Chose the Dove, and the Eric Carle and Friends’ What’s Your Favorite picture book series. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, which Carle and his wife Bobbie founded, opened in Amherst, Massachusetts in 2002.

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Reviews for A House for Hermit Crab

Rating: 4.1260505 out of 5 stars
4/5

238 ratings28 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have been reading books by Eric Carle for a long time because I am such a fan of his artwork. This book is no exception, but there are many other reasons I love it so much. My three-year-old grandson was totally interested in hearing me read this book from cover to cover. The story of this hermit crab reminded him of our family vacations at the beach and led him to reminisce about what we do at the beach. The story incorporates some interesting flora and fauna of the sea and even explains some of them in more detail in a glossary at the back of the book. The story talks about months of the year. We talked about whose birthday was in each month, but there are also other things that can be discussed with a child when talking about months. I love books that are fodder for discussion. It makes reading so much more fun. Because this story is about a hermit crab, it also brings back memories of when my younger son had hermit crabs of his own as pets because it was a time I would not allow any of my children to have larger pets. We had total fun with the two he had (Neptune and Stripey), and this book reminds me of that time.This is also such a fun story about growing. This is a big deal for preschoolers, and it's fun to see how hermit crab deals with this issue. The hermit crab in the story is aware of beauty in the world and wants to make his home beautiful. This story is also about sharing as the growing hermit crab passes his beautiful shell home to another smaller hermit crab.As I said, I love this book!
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I guess there is something seriously wrong with me....I have never really enjoyed Eric Carle books and the art is not my taste either. I think I must be the only person in the world who feels this way. I reread them every year or so and try to see them in a better light but I still can't seem to get it.....I'll keep trying!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This would be a good book to use when talking about the ocean and environments. I think students will like this book because of the way hermit crab decides to spice up his life by finding friends along the way.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This could be a really good book to give to a child or read if some of your students are going through changes in their home lives. They can relate to the hermit crab and maybe even find a way to deal with it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Sean borrowed another new book from preschool. He chose a delightful one by Eric Carle called A House for Hermit Crab. It is Carle at his best; it is pretty to look at, a sweet story about friendship and one that teaches about real sea creatures.In this story a hermit crab must chose a new shell as he has out grown his old one. His new shell is rather boring so he decides to decorate it with other creatures and plants that live in the sea. Each month he finds a new friend to decorate his home. Of course by the end of the year when his home is perfect it is also too small! Now the hermit crab must learn about sharing and start decorating a new home.Sean's choice of this book is timely because he has already decided what he wants to be for Halloween next year. He has decided to be a pikmin and he wants me to start on his costume now. I have been explaining to him that if I start now he will be too tall for the costume by the time we would finish it in October of next year. I've told him that we should wait until his 5th birthday to start or else we'll have to share his costume with a four year old just as the hermit crab had to share his home with a smaller hermit crab at the end of the year.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In my opinion A house for Hermit Crab is an excellent book for young children K-2. The hermit crab has outgrown his shell and needs to find a new one. After he finds the perfect shell he enlists the help of other sea creatures to help make it look fabulous. The story emphasizes a few content areas such as under sea life, months of the year and establishing friendships. The story is an easy read and the pictures are great to keep the children's attention. The plot of the story is simple, clear and concise. The writing style is organized and flows well because of following the months of the year.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Summary:A House for Hermit Crab is the story of a hermit crab who grows and needs to find a new shell to call home. He is too big for his old shell, but also knows that if he doesn't find a new one he will not be safe from other fish. When he finds a new shell, he thinks it is plain and boring, so he sets off to find things to decorate it with. Each month he decorates it with something new until he has a brand new home all set up for himself. Eventually, the hermit crab grows out of his shell again, but he doesn't want to leave because he has made so many new friends. When a smaller hermit crab stumbles by and is looking for a new shell, the larger hermit crab offers his. He says in order to live there though, the new hermit crab must be nice to his friends. The big hermit crab is sad to leave his friends and his home, but eventually finds a bigger shell and becomes excited again to make new friends. Comments (opinions/arguments):I thought this story was really adorable! The illustrations are so fun and extremely colorful and the author does a great job depicting the ocean floor with all of its unique creatures like urchins and starfish. Although this is fiction, the story does a good job at providing real information about hermit crabs. Children will learn that hermit crabs grow just like people and eventually need to find new homes. They are also introduced to many sea creatures that they might have never heard of before. The story also uses the months of the year in the proper sequence to teach students months as they turn the pages. This story also has a really valuable message. Through the constant growing, making friends, moving and having to restart all over, the author is showing children that growing up and moving can be fun. A lot of children fear this kind of change and through the fun story of a hermit crab, Eric Carle makes it seem fearless and fun!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is the story of a hermit crab who goes searching for a new home. Once he finds a new home, he asks other sea animals to help him decorate it and make the house his own. This book can be used to aid science lessons, teaching children how/why animals chose their habitats. Which could then turn into a lesson on the definition of "home" and what that means to people (social studies connection). This book can be used in many different ways in the classroom as well as being a great and creative story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a story about a hermit crab and all of the changes he experiences in a years time. He has to change his shell twice because he keeps out growing it and meets many friends along the way before he has to step out on his own. This is a great book to use with children who are dealing with huge changes in their lives but you have a support system. Great book to use in a hospital setting!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The central theme of this book is moving forward to the next stage of life, which is a very appropriate subject matter for the central character of the story, a hermit crab. The story begins with hermit crab getting too big for his shell and finding a new one. Then over the course of a year he begins to collect new things to decorate and use in his new home. At the end of the year he finds that he has outgrown his new home and gives it to another younger hermit crab to live in. He then leaves all of his possessions behind to find a new shell and repeat the process again. I like how much this story matches the trajectory of life for people at any age. It conveys the honest fact that at some point in our lives we have to start over and move on from what we currently have. The story also shows that there is nothing wrong with that either, and that we should be excited at the idea of starting all over again. I think this is an important lesson for children to learn and this book is a great tool to help convey that message.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    A hermit crab grows out of it's shell and has to look for a new shell that is bigger. As a turtle gets bigger, it's shell gets bigger. This book shows you the aspects of a hermit crabs life.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    "A House for Hermit Crab" by Eric Carle is about a crab that grows out of its shell and leaves to find a new one. The crab travels along the ocean floor picking up peices to build his new home. Eventually, the crab finds a comfortable place inside a simple shell. The beautiful illustrations and story can be enjoyed by all.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book can be used in a few different ways. It can be used for a sequencing lesson. Change can be a scary or sad, but it is a good thing. Introduction to sea life.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    We read this book in French and we love it!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Good book that demonstrates how this certain animal grows and changes. Also has great ocean vocabulary and brilliant illustrations.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a great educational picture book on marine life. A hermit crab outgrows his old shell and finds a new one, adding different sea creatures to his shell every month, to make it feel like home. The books is a great way to learn about change and making new friends. It also has a list of the sea animals in the back telling a little bit about each of them and their functions. It would be good to start a marine life lesson with this book. Good for grades 1-4.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a really fun book to teach about adapting to change. Hermit the Crab outgrows his house and must find a new place to live. On his journey to find a new house he meets and makes new friends with the Sea anemone, Starfish Coral, Sea Urchin, Snail, Lattern fish and smooth pebbles who become like family. Time passes and Hermit crab outgrows his home and it is time to move again but he doesn't want to leave his friends. A smaller hermit crab meets our other crab explaining that he too is looking for a house. The smaller crab is offered the home with the condition that he be good to the other crab's friends. Hermit the Crab leaves his home embarking on a new journey looking for a place to live but he's not scared...he excited by all the possibilities. Great book to read to children on a lesson about change. Eric Carle does a really nice job demonstrating that although change can be kind of intimidating and scary at times, it is also good.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    "A House for Hermit Crab", is a very good book. It is for third, fourth, and fifth grade. The book is about a Hermit Crab who is looking for a bigger house and friends to help it make it beautiful. This book teaches students ways to communicate with people. The book is also very educational. It talks about many different sea creatures, and describes what they are in the ocean for. The book has many colorful pictures also. I think that children would really enjoy this book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Hermit crab outgrew his old shell and moved into a larger one which he thought was comfortable but too plain. He found a beautiful sea anemoe, starfish and coral that agreed to live on his shell to decorate it. Then he found a snail to keep it clean, a sea urchin to protect it, a latern fish to light it, and smooth pebbles to build a wall around his home. He grew too large for his now beautiful home so he let a smaller hermit crab move into his home because she promised to take care of his friends. Hermit crab found a larger shell and began his decorating all over.This is a touching story about helping others and developing caring friendships. Hermit crab also reminds me of my type A personality with his obsession to fix his home just right.This story cound be used as a science lesson in discussing ocean life. It is also a wonderful example of cooperation.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book is an example of fantasy. Even though the story is unrealistic, the story is very believeable. The story includes animals with personified characteristics. It tells the truths of a hermit crabs life trying to find a new home in a fun way that helps students understand the life of marine animals. I would use this book in an intermediate classroom. The type of media used is collage.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a delightful book about a Hermit Crab that has grown too big for his shell. He sets out to find a new, bigger home and also makes lots of friends along the way. His new shell is rather plain and he is looking for ways to decorate. He gets help from an anenome, a starfish, a lantern fish, some coral and many other wonderful sea creatures.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a very, very cute story about a hermit crab who tries all sorts of creative ways to find a new house.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is Eric Carle at his best! He says Hermit is one of his favorite heros, and he wrote it to show young readers that new experiences are not to be dreaded but are really wonderful opportunities. The story is intriguing and the detailed art work is bright and fun to look at, even for adults who have to read the story over and over.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is one of Carle's books that is better suited for older children.We run through the months of the year, and each month the hermit crab makes a new discovery about his shell - he needs a light, or some pebbles, that sort of thing - until he's outgrown it entirely.It's very nicely paced, it just doesn't grab our attention that much.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This is a informational and a fantasy book about a hermit crab who needs a new shell and friends. I think it is a great example of informational because so much of it is about the different sea animals, there is so much to learn about the book. I would use this in the classroom to learn about sea animals, and to learn about how we feel when we grow out of our favorite things. The main character the Hermit Crab is round he is constantly growing (figuratively, and literally).
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an excellent example of fantasy because sea creatures are talking and interacting. At one point, the hermit crab asks the coral to decorate his shell. It is believable, though, because hermit crabs really do outgrow their shells, and all of the listed creatures really do live in the sea and serve the described purposes. The setting is in the sea and can take place at any time. The story is too short to otherwise critique the setting, plot, or characters.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This book is informational because it introduces several different sea creatures and provides information about them at the end of the book. The illustrations in this book are very good because they add to the story and help with character identification. The illustrations directly relate to the story and the reader knows what is happening just by looking at the illustrations.Media: Collage
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very cute story about a lonely hermit crab and his quest for friendship. Teaches good character and life skills. An interesting way to introduce sea life and eric Carle's unique art form.