179. Bob and Shirley: A Tale of Two Lobsters by Harriet Ziefert

Bob and Shirley: A Tale of Two Lobsters by Harriet Ziefert. Pictures by Mavis Smith. (Canada) - (US) Out of Print

Pages: 32
Ages: 7+
Finished: Aug. 12, 2011
First Published: 1991
Publisher: Puffin Books
Genre: children, easy reader, true story, science
Rating: 4/5


First sentence:

Bob and Shirley were lobster friends.

Acquired: Purchased a used copy at a garage/book sale or thrift shop.

Reason for Reading: Ds read aloud to me as his reader.

This is a cute book we've had for quite some time.  I read it aloud to ds a few times when he was much younger and to older brother way back closer to the time when the book was originally published.  Finally it went into the pile of readers.  Based on a true story, this tells of how two lobsters from Maine, where laws protect lobsters over 25 pounds, were caught in a net and taken to Rhode Island.  Their travels took them through several states until they ended up in a Philadelphia window display.  When it was realized that the lobsters were from Maine and word got out people took peaceful action to save the lobsters from the dinner table and have them sent back to their home in Maine waters.  An interesting true-life story.  Sympathy lies with the lobsters, of course, but the point of view is fair and the fishermen and fishseller are never made out to be bad guys.  A fun story, too bad it is out of print, but worth while picking up at a reasonable used price, especially for animal lovers.