Encouraging independence with Little Crab

Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton(Walker Books, 2019)Good to Read for:encouraging independencereassuring anxious childrenan interactive storytimeThis week’s Story Worth Sharing, Don’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton (Walker Books, 2019) reminds grown-ups that change can be both exciting and scary for kids. 

Described by the Guardian as a ‘heart-warming ‘you-can-do-anything’ picture book’, Little Crab is about an anxious crab overcoming his fear of the sea. It’s the perfect choice for encouraging your child to be brave, take a deep breath – and try something new (be it a dip in the sea or the first day of school or playgroup). (As an added bonus, use Little Crab (perhaps teamed with Sally and the Limpet) to introduce your child to the wonderful world of rockpools.)

Haughton’s picture books are saturated with colour. In Little Crab, their rockpool home (and the underwater world that awaits) are shown in warm reds, yellows and oranges. (In contrast with the cooler – and more forbidding – blues and purples of the open ocean.)

Kids will adore Haughton’s cute crabs and relish the language as Little Crab, and Very Big Crab, scuttle sideways from the safety of their rockpool to visit the sea: 

 

They go TIC-A-TIC TIC-A-TIC over the rocks…

SPLISH SPLASH SPLISH SPLASH across the pools…

and SQUELCH SQUELCH SQUELCH through the slimy slippery seaweed.

 

(Just look at the crabs’ expressions as they squelch through the seaweed - a grimace that most kids will relate to.)

   

The excited little crab is full of bravado – “I can go ANYWHERE!” – until they reach the edge of the rocky shore and meet the incoming tide.

Little Crab feels anxious about the surging waves that splash against her rock. But Very Big Crab is reassuring:

 

“Don’t worry… It will be ok.”

…

Hold tight!

Here it comes!

   

Young kids like a refrain and will have fun joining in with ‘Hold tight! Here it comes!’ and the ensuing WHOOSH! as each new (and increasingly large) wave splashes over the crabs. Fortunately for the fearful little crab, Very Big Crab is on hand to encourage and reassure her. (“Let’s just go a little bit further…I think you’ll like it.”)

Little Crab wants to go home. But Very Big Crab knows what awaits her beneath the sea and keeps on with the encouragement.

 

“I’m here. Come! Just a few more steps…”

 

Just as Little Crab makes it into the sea, another ENORMOUS wave heads straight for them.

 

“Ready?” asks Very Big Crab.

Little Crab nods.

They take a deep breath.

Here it comes!

 

Haughton is a master of the page turn. On his blog, he explains how the page itself acts like a wave. “On one side of the page is a breaking wave just before impact and on the reverse it has crashed onto the rocks. That way, the action of turning the pages of the book is like waves crashing onto the shore.” It’s simple – and injects an extra element of fun into storytime.

With one last WHOOSH! an ENORMOUS wave engulfs the crabs. But it’s ok - they remember to hold tight to one another as they drift down into the depths, eyes shut tight. Haughton’s characterisation is understated. But the crabs’ yellow eyes and minimal forms express so much.

So was it worth the anxiety and fortitude needed to overcome Little Crab’s fears?

You bet!

   

A whole new world awaits her at the bottom of the sea. Colourful fish and other marine creatures – everyone comes to say hello. 

 

“I LOVE THE SEA!” says Little Crab.

 

Very Big Crab’s gentle (and confident) attitude is charming. She acknowledges Little Crab’s worries. And rather than forcing her tiny companion into the sea, Very Big Crab is gently encouraging (“I think you’ll like it.”). It’s a beautiful reflection of the loving relationship between a child and its caregiver and a reminder of good practice: Give your child time and space to adjust to new/ worrying situations. 

I refer to the crabs as female so that my article reads more easily. Unusually, neither character is assigned a gender. It’s significant as it means any child will see themselves (as well as their caregivers – be that mum, dad, or grandma) reflected in the characters.

Speaking of grandmas – I love Tina Beattie’s GoodReads review of Little Crab. She shares how life imitated art when she took her three-year-old granddaughter paddling in the sea:

[My granddaughter] would let go of my hand and then grab it again, and she kept checking to see if I was still there before saying, ‘Shall we go a bit deeper?’ I could sense she was daring herself but reassured by my hovering presence. Then she looked up at me between splashes and said, “I’m Little Crab and you’re Big Crab.”

–  GoodReads

It’s a heartwarming reminder of picture books’ power and how they can help you support the children in your care.

 Don’t Worry, Little Crab is a warm, reassuring story.

As with Haughton’s other picture books, it begins with a quote – this time from Anaïs Nin: Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. Haughton’s simple picture book illustrates Nin’s words perfectly. It would be helpful in any situation where a child feels anxious, offering a fun way to connect with your child while gently reassuring them. Yes – it’s a big old world out there. But sometimes, things aren’t as scary as they first appear.

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. 

There’s a lesson for the Very Big Crabs in there, too. Sometimes, we adults need to be brave. To slowly relinquish control and influence, allowing our kids to follow their dreams and make their own mistakes. Only then will your little one, like Little Crab, feel empowered to go anywhere.

 Tips for sharing Don’t Worry, Little Crab

Encourage your child to trace the dotted line with a finger as the crabs TIC-A-TIC TIC-A-TIC across the rocks.

Chris Haughton’s tip: Get children to hold their breath (and hold on tight!) when the big waves come. After the page turn, check to ensure no one was swept away! (This would work especially well in a group setting. Your child could hold on to you (or their cuddly toys) for one-on-one storytimes.)

Ask your child if they ever feel worried like Little Crab. Sharing picture books creates a quiet space (and a priceless opportunity) for you both to stop and be present.

STORIES WORTH SHARINGDon’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton(Walker Books, 2019)Good to Read for:encouraging independencereassuring anxious childrenan interactive storytimeCopyright © 2019 Chris Haughton (Text & Illustrations)From DON’T WORRY, LITTLE CRAB by Chris HaughtonReproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London, SE11 5HJGOOD TO READFor encouraging independence (and being brave)

My New Home by Marta Altes

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright & Jim Field

A Little Bit Worried by Ciara Gavin & Tim Warnes

The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore & Richard Jones

How To Be a Lion by Ed Vere

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 “Will resonate for children and caregivers alike.”– Kirkus Reviews
“[My son] LOVED the WHOOSH of the waves. We acted that out as we read.”– Goodreads buy uk Buy US * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFFRELATED ARTICLESSOURCESDon’t Worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton (Walker Books, 2019) Don’t Worry Little Crab , (reviewed by Tina Beattie, goodreads.com, 2 July 2022) The making of ‘Don’t Worry, Little Crab’ (Chrishaughton.com, 31 July 2019)Instagram post from @chrishaughton (instagram.com, 31 July 2019)© 2022 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE.