The Curious Lobster

by Richard W. Hatch, Marion Freeman Wakeman (Illustrator)

An American Wind in the Willows, this charming tale of Mr. Lobster and his underwater and dry land friends celebrates curiousity and having an open mind, and will be sure to delight children and parents.

Whether you are five or one hundred and five, chances are you’ve never met a lobster as learned and charming as Mr. Lobster—and he’d be the very first to tell you so. Mr. Lobster has evaded the fisherman’s trap for decades, but life in his corner of the ocean seems duller by the day. The time has come to seek new adventures, new friends, and even—gasp!—new,  dry  lands. Dry land is of course perilous for a saltwater-dwelling creature, as are the folks you can meet there, like badgers, bears, birds, and snakes. But Mr. Lobster has a way of turning every enemy into a dear friend and of escaping the scrapes his curiosity gets him into.

The Curious Lobster stories have been delighting a small and devoted fellowship of readers for going on eighty years. Sweet but not cloying, instructive but not didactic, they acknowledge the challenges of getting along with others and celebrate the possibilities of a life lived beyond the normal swim of things.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Classics

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

See also Richard Warren Hatch.

Reviews

[Alicen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book out loud to Liam about the Curious Lobster and his friends, Bear and Badger. It was full of delightful adventures and tales of friendship. Highly recommended.

"I am not sure that it is true that misery loves company....but it certainly draws a crowd."

"...when you're interested, you are happy."

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That is life …. You think you are going to hatch eagles, and you hatch mud turtles instead.”

When I heard this book likened to an American Winnie the Pooh or Wind in the Willows, I immediately sought it out to read to my boys. We were not disappointed. Mr. Lobster and his friends are utterly charming, and Hatch’s gentle commentary on human nature kept me smiling all the way through.

[Jarrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. Delightful. Richard Hatch’s collected stories of the “Curious Lobster” is perfect little gem that anyone, young and old, can enjoy reading. Our titular hero, the “Curious Lobster”, learns many things while embarking on adventures with his two friends, Mr. Badger and Mr. Bear and finds out much more than he bargained for. Excitement, travel and new experiences await but most importantly he finds that kindness, comfort, friendship and wisdom are the truest rewards to be found.
NYRB has published a very nice illustrated paperback edition here (from 2018) and it makes an excellent addition to any book collector’s bookcase, shelf, library, etc.
I confess that I may never have come across this marvellous find had I not diligently referenced my 2 favourite authors recommendations of their own favourite books of all time. Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child have yet to let me down.
The Curious Lobster would have made for joyful reading had I been exposed to this as a child. Like Kenneth Grahame’s “The Wind in the Willows”, this book is a must read. And, I dare say, a classic.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unlikely trio of eccentric, fussy creatures (Messrs. Lobster, Bear, and Badger) become friends and go on adventures. Often funny, always brisk and sunny (and well-illustrated), The Curious Lobster is similar to Milne's Pooh, and Hatch's observations, like Milne's, are about character, friendship, duty, the ability to rise above the weirdness of others, and the ability to work together.

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read, I read it in a day. Would be perfect to read aloud to kids. Mr Lobster enjoys many adventures and the expressions of feelings through his perspective as a lobster is relatable yet inherently human and is refreshing to read. Reminds me a lot of the tv show Little Bear or Peep in the Big Wide World. Exploratory and precarious and pleasant and joyful.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 Sentence Summary: Mr. Lobster wants to know what it's like on land, meets a badger and a bear, and goes on many adventures.

My Thoughts: I saw this at the library and checked it out because the title was so funny! This was a cute and funny book.

Recommend to: People who like lobsters?

[Giga · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very pleasant and had good lessons. It was like eating a piece of chocolate. Mr lobster’s wisdom is refreshing. Everyone needs a dose of sensibility and I think everyone should read this book.

[Bethanyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read with my son for kindergarten. I’m going to stand on a hill and say, I think this is one of the best children’s books I’ve ever read. My son and I had a wonderful year with Mr lobster, Mr. Bear, and Mr. Badger.

[A-Potato · Rating 5 out of 5]

I personally loved reading this. It was funny and had a good ending to it.

[Lee Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book out loud to my 8 year old. He thoroughly enjoyed the humour of the story. Chapters are long - but the characters have so many different adventures throughout the story. Much fun!

[Forked Radish · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unsung classic! Better than the "Wind in the Willows" or "Winnie the Pooh"! Not just for kids as it has truly relevant philosophy that will resonate with adults as well. Lightly anthropomorphized too—no clothes or other such nonsense.

[Melinda Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, witty, fun book with adages mixed throughout.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This reminded me of "Winnie the Pooh" and "Paddington." Delightful characters having humorous adventures. We loved it.

[Dave Kingsbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have tried for many years to find this book, twice through Goodreads 'What's the Name of that Book???" page which eventually came up trumps. It had been out of print for many years, but I was directed to a NYRB reprint (2018) and sent for it. This edition contains all the Lobster stories, including a second volume I'd not read.

I wasn't sure it was the right book at the start but read it slowly, allowing the wonderful words and delightful illustrations to work their magic. It was a double pleasure, to take the story in as an adult and to find - how to put this without seeming too Proustian? - my younger self somehow walking towards me from the shadows of the past. You see, unlike other childhood books I owned and re-read many times, this one was probably a library book I had to return or risk a fine! I seem to remember trying to borrow it subsequently but someone else had taken it out and I never found it again.

So, to read the book again after so long - around 65 years later, phew! - really was a great thrill. Spooky, actually, and I'm not a big user of such words! Richard Warren Hatch's novel is funny, deep, truthful, affectionate, brilliant on friendship and also very evocative of the natural world - an almost ecological awareness for 1935 - and just the sort of book I like to think would appeal to that open-eyed youngster, me!

I went on to read the other volume in this edition - "The Curious Lobster's Island" - and it was every bit as good as the first. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to kids from 7-10 and beyond. Without Goodreads I never would have been reunited with it.

Happy reading!

[Shannon Ture · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, relaxed, witty, and intelligent children's story.