Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together

Life under the teal Tsurumi sea is abundant, busy, and seems pretty much by the textbook: "Spiny Lobster looks for a new home. Parrotfish crunches coral and poops sand... Lionfish does whatever she pleases." But one serious outlier, Crab, bakes cakes, cupcakes, and more--frosted peach and green confections studded with shells and seaweed. Crab's fellow inhabitants both indulge in the treats and find the baking behavior a little perplexing. In one drawing, Tsurumi shows the classic ocean food chain, with Crab proffering a cupcake to the last and smallest fish. Then, one night, a literal boatload of junk crashes into the ocean; the once-limpid water turns dark, and everyone is at a loss ("Dolphin freezes. Manta Ray freezes. Even Lionfish freezes")--except Crab, who determinedly bakes a cake. This act of defiance and resilience coaxes the shocked schools out of hiding to nosh, comfort one another, and find a solution. Fans of Accident! will be happy that Tsurumi's mastery of detail, humor, and clear-eyed empathy continues in this wholly original and moving affirmation of one crab's power to bring a community together. Ages 4-7. Agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Feb.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--Under the sea, the animals all have their part to play. The tangs swim in schools, the scallop flips in a loop-de-loop, and the crab...bakes cakes. Tsurumi gracefully switches between pseudo-nonfiction snapshots of undersea life and a ridiculous tale about a crab baking for its friends. The two threads come together toward the middle of the book, when a large amount of trash is dumped into their ocean. Shocked and scared, the other fish turn to Crab, who feeds them and orchestrates a cleanup movement. This is not only a simple tale about the healing power of baking, but also about the importance of clean oceans--links in the back to NASA Climate Kids and other sites help reiterate that important point. As in her debut, Accident!, it's Tsurumi's illustrations that win the day. Her attention to detail and ability to create rich textures through shading and colors truly bring the animals to life. And the cartoon style makes the piece fun and lighthearted before shifting gears to show the animals fearfully looking at the blackened garbage that has infested their home. VERDICT A sweet and hopeful tale--highly recommended for one-on-one and small group sharing.--Peter Blenski, Greenfield Public Library, WI

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

A Best Book of 2019 from: Kirkus * Publishers Weekly * New York Public Library

"The eco-friendly lesson goes down easy."—New York Times Book Review

★ "Readers come away with the idea that nourishing and supporting one another is the only way to change the world. A kid-friendly yet profound confection."-Kirkus, STARRED review

★ "Fans of Accident! will be happy that Tsurumi's mastery of detail, humor, and clear-eyed empathy continues in this wholly original and moving affirmation of one crab's power to bring a community together."-Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

"While entertaining, as evidenced by the playful title which recalls appetizers at a seafood restaurant, it is withserious intent and empathy that these comical comics (graphite on vellum with digital coloring) successfully communicate a theme of community and environmentalism."-Booklist

"A sweet and hopeful tale—highly recommended for one-on-one and small group sharing."-School Library Journal