A young naturalist’s guide to the hard-bodied creatures often spotted at the seashore introduces crustaceans as animals that have a hard shell protecting their soft bodies. Children will especially enjoy the cooler facts that are included—crustaceans shed their shells when they get too small, some have eyes on stalks, and some can even regenerate a lost limb. Sill explains the difference between a scavenger and a predator, as well as the fact that crustaceans are also an important part of the food chain. The text features simple language and short sentences and defines vocabulary within the sentence, making it easy for children to learn new words. Marvelous paintings evoke the seashore, with all its color and fluidity. Each plate is numbered and labeled with the crustacean’s name, along with the names of other animals in the scene. An afterword gives more details about the animals featured, but would be more appealing to young readers if it were opposite the full-color illustrations instead of at the back of the book and in black and white. An excellent first resource book for young children. (Picture book/nonfiction. 3-6)
