There Might Be Lobsters

by Carolyn Crimi, Laurel Molk (Illustrator)

Come on, Sukie, you can do it! A little dog's paralyzing anxiety gives way to bravery when someone smaller is in need in this humorous, tenderly sympathetic story.

Lots of things at the beach scare Sukie. Lots. Because she is just a small dog, and the stairs are big and sandy, and the waves are big and whooshy, and the balls are big and beachy. And besides, there might be lobsters. With endearing illustrations and a perfectly paced text that captures a timid pup's looping thoughts, here is a funny and honest read-aloud about how overwhelming the world can be when you're worried and how empowering it is to overcome your fears when it matters the most.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Dogs, Summer, Animals, Storytime, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published May 9, 2017

About the author

Carolyn Crimi, AKA the Pirate Queen, is the author of numerous books for young readers, including BORIS AND BELLA, illustrated by Gris Grimly. Of HENRY AND THE BUCCANEER BUNNIES, she says, "While I don't have long floppy ears or a pro-nounced overbite, Henry and I are kindred spirits, who love books and carrots!"

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked this book up, I thought this might be about eating good lobsters, instead it is about a dog afraid of lobsters and glad she never saw one.

On the whole, I wasn't crazy about the art or the story. I felt it was a little flat, but the theme of facing your fears is a good one. Kids can relate to a dog and the dog's fear is real and many people go through it, so it's a universal theme.

Still, I was bored and maybe it would be better if there were reactions of kids around. It's probably more of a 3 star book, but I'm a bit harsher here.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beach and the ocean can be a scary sight when you’re just little dog like Suki. But his owner Eleanor is determined to get her dog on the beach and into the ocean for some fun, despite all the excuses he might be able to think up to avoid the beach. After all, you can’t be too careful, and there might be lobsters. After being carried to the shore’s edge, and even with his favorite toy, Chunka Munka, by his side, Suki is scared - of the big beach ball, the salty, wet waves, lobsters. So, Suki just sits on the beach watching everyone else having a good, until, uh-oh, a big waves comes and take Chunka Munka right out to sea. Will Suki find his courage and be able to save his faithful companion before he sinks to the bottom of the sea, lost forever? Yes he does, and Suki feels pretty good about it, too. This is a wonderful story for kids who might be feeling a little trepidation about the beach and the ocean, especially after rooting for Suki to save Chunka Munka. Readers will find plenty of humor in Molk’s semi-silly watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink illustrations, and maybe even a few lobsters, but it’s all in good fun. Pay particular attention to the sea gulls doing exactly what sea gulls do - stealing people’s food all through the story. Do let your young readers count the number of times sea gulls succeed.

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is great on so many levels--story and text. With a slight flavor of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day, the takeaway here is that love conquers fear, but the little girl gets to share this truth with her puppy instead of an adult teaching her or even the child discovering this for her own life. Sweet story, beautifully illustrated. Great read-aloud book.

[ColumbusReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of things at the beach scared Sukie. Lots.

Very enjoyable picture book. Sukie is a small dog on the beach with Eleanor. Sukie is afraid to come down the beach stairs and play on the beach or enter in the water. She sits at the top of stairs with her stuffed monkey, Chunka Munka (cutesy name). Eleanor tries to get Sukie involved and to enjoy herself at the beach and nothing works. She was afraid because: the waves were big; and they were whooshy; and the beach ball was big and beachy and it might hit her nose and besides, there might be lobsters. She finally picks up Sukie and Chunka Munka and brings them down the stairs. Suddenly Chunka Munka is taken in by the waves and Sukie’s instinct’s take over and swims out after the monkey.

This book has great illustrations, a wonderful message about overcoming fears and in Eleanor, a young girl of color that we see so infrequently in these books. Very, very enjoyable!

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun picture book shares a day at the beach for Eleanor and her dog, Sukie. Told from Sukie's point of view, there are many scary things at the beach: big stairs, big beach balls, big waves, and maybe even lobsters! Despite all of Eleanor's urging, Sukie refuses to go into the water; until her stuffed monkey floats out with the waves. This book has a great message about being brave and overcoming fears. Great illustrations, rendered in watercolor, acrylic, and ink pen, the artist shows all of the fun details of people enjoying themselves on the beach.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard for any book to live up to the hype, but this one surely does. (And of course, it's a Candlewick book.) Carolyn Crimi gives us an endearing story of friendship and overcoming fear. I may have liked this book 100% more because the stuffed monkey is named Chunka Munka, the moniker we used for my 2nd son when he was a baby. (He's now 6'5" and thin.) Molk's soft watercolors outlined with pen and ink amplify the gentle friendship between Sukie the dog and Eleanor and Sukie and her Chunka Munka.

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eleanor and her dog, Sukie, are at the beach for the day. Eleanor wants to play, but Sukie is scared of so many things. She's too small to walk down the stairs, or play with the beachball, or splash in the water. But when Sukie's beloved stuffy, Chunka Munka, is carried away by a wave, Sukie must decide if she's brave enough to save him. Young readers will relate to the theme of overcoming your fears, and they will love the colorful, playful illustrations. I highly recommend this book. It's sure to be a bedtime favorite!

[Jean Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down my kids’ favorite picture book on the sometimes irrational fears we have about the big world out there.

A little girl takes her timid pup to the beach where we witness a set of hilarious (but understandable) scenarios. The little dog is overwhelmed by the big and sandy stairs, the big and whooshy waves, the big and beachy balls, and most especially, the fact that there might be lobsters!

We are still joking about this funny read-aloud in our household and I heartily recommend it for school and home libraries.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story of a day at the beach from the dog's perspective. She may be scared of encountering lobsters, and worry about everything that could go wrong each step of the way, but when her friend is in peril, bravery wins out. I loved this, and think kids will, too, especially those who have dogs. Or sock monkeys.
Would be a cute pairing with Penguin Problems to compare the two characters and their worries/complaints.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

With pitch-perfect voice and pacing, this will delight the bravest audiences and the most timid. Who doesn't let imagination run wild at times, blocking the path to what we really want?
I can see this as a suitable gift for adults embarking on brave new challenges, too.
Pair with DON'T WORRY LITTLE CRAB.

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A precious story about an anxiety-ridden dog and her companion (stuffed) animal, Chunka Munka.

Sukie the dog is scared of everything at the beach. But when Chunka Munka gets washed out to sea, she gets to be brave! There's a hidden lobster at the end.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dog has anxiety about being at the beach. He eventually overcomes his fears in order to save his favorite toy. I would have liked this book better if the girl had anxiety and described how she overcame it. Good for an elementary read aloud.

[Blanco Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I know a border collie that is afraid of lobsters.

I really enjoyed the story and the illustrations.
Sukie's fears of what could happen were elaborate (and therefore humorous) with the inevitable result that lobsters might be involved.

[RinTinTin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is adorable - perfect for the little dog-lover in your life. I bought it for my cousin’s daughter (who loves dogs and the beach) and she asked me to read it to her five times in a row the first night. Kid and adult approved!

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet book about overcoming your fears, as seen through a small dog at the beach.
I'm not sure about the title. Lots of Mainers will pick this up in hopes of finding a more lobster filled story.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love can help you overcome fear of the unknown - even lobsters!

[Sarah Krajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know a few little ones who will relate all too well to this one. ❤️

[Becky Loader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just remember...there might be lobsters! ;-)

[Joseph Crupper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Dog Sukie learns how to overcome her fears, believe in herself, and how to have fun!

[Elise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute kid's book about a small dog, her stuffed toy, and her learning to overcome fears.

[Cloud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Child loved this book! I don't know what about it specifically appealed to her, but we read this one a lot and I would consider buying it.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

A++++++ Very Good Dog, reminds me of Will Henry

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There Might Be Lobsters

By Carolyn Crimi

Illustrated by Laurel Molk

This is a perfect book to begin your summer, especially if you’re making your first trip to the beach and your little ones are feeling a little uneasy about the experience, just as Suki does in There Might Be Lobsters. I especially loved the illustrations in the story. Suki’s expressions, the blue of the water and Eleanor’s delight in spending a day at the beach were expressed beautifully on every page.

I don’t normally include Brandy, our rescued greyhound, in my photos, but she and Suki, the main character in this charming story are so much alike that I had to. For the first month that Brandy was with us, she wouldn’t sleep by herself and she wouldn’t climb the stairs. So what do you do about that? Well, of course, my husband slept on the sofa, what else!? Suki was also afraid of the stairs, as well as most everything on the big scary beach, where she goes with her faithful girl, Eleanor and her stuffed monkey, Chunka Munka. Even with Eleanor’s support and encouragement (reminds me of all of our antics to persuade Brandy to climb the stairs!) Suki just couldn’t conquer her fears. That is until she has to rescue her faithful buddy. This story will help your kiddos to understand that despite how scary new things might be, once you conquer your fears, it feels really good.

Candlewick Press

[Breann Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book was very heart warming and enjoyable. This book is clearly read for entertainment, but I think it has a great message along with it. The message I got from this book is about overcoming fears, especially for those you love. In the story, Sukie is terrified of water, and spends most of the book facing his fears, and watching them right before his eyes. I think this might be great for students trying to overcome a fear, and even a student with anxiety. For example, a student with anxiety may struggle with facing fears, big and small, every single day. This is a great example of this because the author emphasizes how big the ocean is and how small Sukie is, however, he still overcomes and beats this fear. I think this book could be read to upper-elementary. The illustrations are also very exciting and colorful, adding to the story.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crimi, Carolyn There Might Be Lobsters, illustrated by Laurel Molk. PICTURE BOOK. Candlewick, 2017. $17.

Sukie the dog has gone with her girl for a day at the beach. But Sukie is afraid of everything - that is until she has to be brave to rescue her Chunka Munka.

I’m going to read this out loud a lot just so that I can say “Chunka Munka” lots of times! Great combination of text and illustrations. With all of the anxiety assigned to the dog, this could be a way to start a conversation about fears and how to handle them.

Pre-K, EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...

[Danielle H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was apparently on a buy books about anxiety kick last spring it seems, but I very much enjoyed this story. I felt having there be a variety of fears and hesitations was very legitimate in how anxiety can present, and done in kid friendly ways with humor. It's wasn't just a fear of the beach as a whole, but specific things all layered on one another, some seen and some unseen, and that's important sometimes to think about. What are the little things I need to overcome that will get me to the ultimate goal of overcoming everything. Excited to use this as a read aloud at the start of the school year.

[Blaine Gerdes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor and her dog, Sukie, are at the beach to play and swim. Eleanor wants to play, but Sukie is scared that many of the things Eleanor wants to do will hurt her. She's too small to walk down the stairs, or play with the beachball because it might pop and be too loud, or splash in the water because they might toss her in the water and she might float away. But when Sukie's monkey Chunka Munka, starts to sink snd float away, Sukie decides that she is going to rescue him. Young readers will relate to the theme of being brave enough to overcome something like Sukie overcame being scared of the water.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sukie, the dog, is afraid of so much about a day at the beach. Eleanor helps her dog and his monkey toy to do things to enjoy the beach and water. Sukie finally gets in the water when Chunka Munka does. Soothing to read this to a child with fears of water, or new adventures and talk about it.
I think kids would love this book and relate to Sukie or Eleanor. The illustrator has done a nice job with additions in the pictures for the story like the dog and his toy on the beach blanket at the end. And no lobsters were harmed in this book.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot seem to find the article I saw recently where an author recommended this book, but I'm so glad I immediately put the book on hold! Anxiety-ridden Suki (a dog) has a mind that runs a-mile-a-minute, just like mine! Beyond my kinship with the dog, though, I appreciate the simple storyline, the encouraging Eleanor, and the name of the stuffed monkey, Chunka Munka (I am prone to calling adorably curvaceous babies "chunk-a-munks"). All in all, this book is going to be a fun one to add to the storytime rotation.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parents will likely recognize themselves in the young girl, Eleanor, and their anxious child in Sukie—but what an adorable pup that kids can’t help but fall in love with. This story of overcoming an anxious situation through a brave act may be helpful for kids getting out of their own debilitating dialog and having empathy for another—and taking action to be a more engaged and relaxed individual, even in setting that can make one nervous. Great expressions n each of the illustrations—relatable!