Janice S.C. Petrie's Blog

The ice sculpture that adorns the New England Aquarium’s entrance is always a favorite. This year’s sea-themed sculpture is especially relatable to anyone who’s had the opportunity to see the sea lion exhibit at the New England Aquarium. I had the opportunity to do just that last January and it didn’t disappoint.

This year’s sculpture was created by Don Chapelle, from Lawrence, MA, who used thirty-two blocks of ice to sculpt a 6-foot-tall, by 9-foot-deep, by 12-foot-wide depiction of the aquarium’s sea lions and their trainer. The two most recent additions to this exhibit are sea lions Gio and Farley, who were found off the coast of California as one-year-olds. They were released back into the wild, but because they were so young, they had difficulty acclimating and needed to be cared for in an aquarium setting, since they were considered non-releasable. The New England Aquarium has had them in their exhibit since July, 2023.

Below is one of the adorable sea lions that I had the opportunity to meet this year. The sculpture is available to be viewed on December 31st, from 1-5pm. But the live sea lions can be visited anytime the New England Aquarium is open.

(Above sea lion photo by Janice S. C. Petrie; 
Featured Ice Sculpture photo from New England Aquarium’s Instagram Page)

On July 28, 2016, I wrote a blog post to voice my concern that Florence Arlene Curry Small was, after the 100th anniversary of her tragic murder, incredibly still lying in a grave that was virtually unmarked. In 2007, at the urging of the Ossipee Historical Society’s Natalie Peterson, the town of Ossipee funded a grave marker that was engraved with Florence’s three initials, F A S, and the dates of her birth and death. A dedication ceremony was held on September 28, 2007, the anniversary of Florence’s murder, at dusk. While this marker was a wonderful improvement to Florence’s memory, I still hadn’t given up on trying to fund a true memorial headstone for Florence. If a person visiting the Grant Hill Cemetery in Ossipee was searching for Florence Small’s grave, he or she would have had real difficulty finding the grave containing the half casket bought by Frederick Small after the discovery of his wife’s half-burned remains in the cellar of their smoldering cottage. The flat marker with the initial’s F A S was more often than not, covered with pine needles from a nearby tree, and completely covered by leaves in the fall.

In all the years since I wrote Perfection To A Fault, I’ve never given up the desire to give Florence a headstone that fully revealed her identity. In the years following the dedication ceremony in 2007, I completed a second printing of Perfection To A Fault, to include some photos that readers often asked for in reviews of the book. The reach of an independent publisher is sadly much shorter than we’d like, and even with this added effort, including the creation of a “featurette” video to allow people to remotely get a feel for the town of Ossipee and some of the important locations of the story, we hadn’t yet reached the level of popularity for which we were hoping. Last fall, I enlisted the services of Sarah Eileen Phelan, an accomplished audiobook narrator, to record an audio version of Perfection To A Fault. This helped to widen the audience of this intriguing mystery. She did a wonderful job bringing this story to life for people commuting to work, or possibly looking for an engaging tale to listen to while mowing the lawn.

In 2016, I concluded my blog post with the following: “Only time will tell whether Florence will ever get the headstone she deserves. But I firmly believe that, if you dream it, it will come. So hang in there Florence, I still see a headstone in your future.” 

I’m so happy to report that on August 30, 2023, as we approach the 107th anniversary of the murder of Florence Small, she finally has a beautiful memorial bench for visitors to sit upon at her gravesite and enjoy the hilltop view. So if you’ve heard the story of Florence Small and are inclined to take a ride to Ossipee to enjoy a little getaway weekend, be sure to stop by Grant Hill Cemetery and pay a visit to Florence. An inviting seat and a beautiful view awaits you, and I’m sure Florence will appreciate the company.

We’re happy to announce that “The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell” has become a Mom’s Choice Awards Gold Award recipient. We’re excited for even more children, teachers, parents, and grandparents to discover our latest book!

To view the award announcement, click here: https://www.facebook.com/seatalespublishing/posts/pfbid0274cMjV8mTUENZW9XEX7FfzSPoNuhDKQfmPZCveYtQ8DXzGJQGAduQ3rbx48Kmy52l

It was a warm, light rain that greeted visitors to the Boston Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll this New Year’s Eve, where the New England Aquarium’s annual sculpture is always a highlight. This year’s pick was chosen to bring attention to the African penguins, which are endangered in the wild. By highlighting this particular aquatic animal, the aquarium hopes to spark a conversation which will lead to visitors wanting to learn more and perhaps become interested in the conservation of this beloved species included in the aquarium’s sea animal family.

African penguins can be found living in the wild on the southwestern African coast, and are known for making sounds that are a lot like a donkey’s bray. They live for ten to fifteen years in the wild, but in captivity they can live to be much older. The New England Aquarium actually has an African penguin who is 41 years young!

The center penguin in the ice sculpture is modeled after a twenty-four year old female penguin named “Beach Donkey,” who is part of a live penguin exhibit at the New England Aquarium. She has developed a malady called pododermatitis, which causes calluses on the bottom of Beach Donkey’s feet. Because of this, she has specially made Tevas that she wears on her feet to make her more comfortable while walking around. To learn more about Beach Donkey, click on the New England Aquarium video below.

Hopefully, people got a good look at this beautiful ice sculpture created by Don Chapelle of Brilliant Ice Sculpture early. The 10,800 pounds of ice doesn’t stand much of a chance, once revealed, against the mid-fifty degree weather and light rain. Chapelle’s team used dry ice and a tarp to protect the sculpture before the first night celebration. But once revealed, the race is on! With all ice sculptures, the first thing that’s lost is the tremendous detail that Chapelle includes in each of his sculptures. Luckily, we have photos to preserve it’s memory.

Can’t believe how incredibly fortunate I was yesterday to meet Jenna Bush Hager at the Today show in NYC. I feel we’re kindred spirits, both of us having a lifelong passion for storytelling and books. Jenna is as friendly and approachable in person as she appears on TV.

The luck continues for our lucky little hermit crab as the starred Kirkus review for “The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell” was chosen to appear in Kirkus Review’s December magazine. We were thrilled to see it given space in such a prestigious place.

A Kirkus Star! So excited to hear from Kirkus Reviews that my book, “The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell” has received a Kirkus Star! “The Kirkus Star is one of the most prestigious designations in the book industry,” according to the Kirkus website. Only 3% of independently published books receive a star. I guess that my little hermit crab truly is lucky! https://www.kirkusreviews.com/…/the-lucky-hermit-crab…/

I just had to share this Kirkus Review with fans of our newly released book, “The Lucky Hermit Crab and Her Swirly New Shell.” Sally MacLaughlin would be thrilled to know that this book was dedicated to her! She was so excited to see it, and sadly never got the chance.

“. . . Petrie’s full-color cartoon illustrations mix realistic detail with friendly facial expressions; the octopus hiding on almost every page makes for an excellent seek-and-find. The main text reads smoothly throughout, but the thought-bubble commentary from fish witnessing the crab’s difficulties is the story’s highlight. They offer fast facts about hermit crabs while amusingly reacting to the protagonist’s adventures. The ample ocean-creature terminology (exoskeleton, anemones) will challenge newly independent readers, and the interesting topic will provide encouragement.
A sea story with a solid message, fanciful rhymes, and engaging characters.”

If you’re a NetGalley user, there’s a free download of this book available, no password needed. We also have a free download on our website that’s password protected. Simply email us and we’ll be happy to provide the password. Reviews are always welcome and so much appreciated!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/janice-s-c-petrie/the-lucky-hermit-crab-and-her-swirly-new-shell/

“Petrie’s unique, upbeat picture book helps children explore how to gracefully let go of what is not meant for them as they grow up. The story follows a young hermit crab who has become too big for her shell and must find a new one to protect her soft, squishy tail from predators. One day she discovers the most “strikingly wonderful shell in the world,” which is adorned with colorful barnacles and anemones and stands out because of its swirly pattern. The crab knows she is lucky for having found the shell and loves to show it off—but soon she grows again, and she must make another difficult decision.

Because childhood is a time of such rapid change, kids will relate to the hermit crab’s plight—and while they may initially be rooting for her to keep her standout shell, they will likely soon recognize that letting it go is the only way for her to continue to grow and stay safe. Importantly, in Petrie’s empathetic book the crab is never shamed or criticized for wanting to hang on to her old home, which makes the message more accessible. The story also includes plenty of facts about hermit crabs and other sea creatures, which will appeal to both curious kids and adults.

Detailed and colorful, Petrie’s illustrations cleverly bring this story to life and allow kids to feel a sense of compassion for the hermit crab, which may be an unfamiliar creature to many. With long, pointy legs and antennae-like eyes, the crab is shown hiding from predators and scuttling along the ocean floor in a too-small shell before finding her lovely new one, surrounded by rocks, seaweed, and a trio of colorful fish. With her rhyming prose and obvious love of sea life, Petrie has created a playful and exciting underwater world that children will be eager to revisit. 

Takeaway: In this upbeat picture book a hermit crab helps children explore how to let go and grow.

Great for fans of: Catherine Leblanc’s Too Big or Too Small, Barney Saltzberg’s Cengdu Can Do.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A“

Click here to see this review on Booklife’s website.

Reviews

“Petrie’s unique, upbeat picture book helps children explore how to gracefully let go of what is not meant for them as they grow up. The story follows a young hermit crab who has become too big for her shell and must find a new one to protect her soft, squishy tail from predators. One day she discovers the most “strikingly wonderful shell in the world,” which is adorned with colorful barnacles and anemones and stands out because of its swirly pattern. The crab knows she is lucky for having found the shell and loves to show it off—but soon she grows again, and she must make another difficult decision.

Because childhood is a time of such rapid change, kids will relate to the hermit crab’s plight—and while they may initially be rooting for her to keep her standout shell, they will likely soon recognize that letting it go is the only way for her to continue to grow and stay safe. Importantly, in Petrie’s empathetic book the crab is never shamed or criticized for wanting to hang on to her old home, which makes the message more accessible. The story also includes plenty of facts about hermit crabs and other sea creatures, which will appeal to both curious kids and adults.

Detailed and colorful, Petrie’s illustrations cleverly bring this story to life and allow kids to feel a sense of compassion for the hermit crab, which may be an unfamiliar creature to many. With long, pointy legs and antennae-like eyes, the crab is shown hiding from predators and scuttling along the ocean floor in a too-small shell before finding her lovely new one, surrounded by rocks, seaweed, and a trio of colorful fish. With her rhyming prose and obvious love of sea life, Petrie has created a playful and exciting underwater world that children will be eager to revisit. 

Takeaway: In this upbeat picture book a hermit crab helps children explore how to let go and grow.

Great for fans of: Catherine Leblanc’s Too Big or Too Small, Barney Saltzberg’s Cengdu Can Do.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A“

Click here to see this review on Booklife’s website.