The Boy Who Lived in a Shell: Snippets for Wandering Minds [Hardcover]

From the venerable John Himmelman comes something new—a collection of story poems perfect for fans of Shel Silverstein.

A boy named Ivo lives in a giant moon snail shell on a beach. One day, a wave carries him out to sea. While he waits to be rescued, he makes the best of his time writing story poems on the walls inside the shell. In his poems, Ivo introduces you to characters such as dolphin, the nicest creature in the ocean who brings him a crayon when he needs a new one. Crab who takes over when Ivo sleeps and writes crabby poems. There’s carrot boy who eats so many carrots that he turns into a rabbit. And two sibling pups taken in by different owners and can’t stop looking for each other. 

John Himmelman’s masterful collection of poems—each illustrated in full-color art—is filled with unforgettable characters and begs to be read time and time again.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle-Grade Book of the Year
One of Evanston Public Library’s 101 Great Books for KidsOverflowing with oomph and pizzazz, this collection will take up space in children’s minds for years to come.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

These are not poems in the traditional sense, but rather a combination of humorous poetry and thoughtful storytelling that will engage readers’ fancies and should enjoy wide appeal among young readers, especially those who enjoy the works of Shel Silverstein and Douglas Florian. A recommended addition to library and classroom collections.
—School Library Journal

Beguiling fare for readers who like their poetic ventures on the surreal side.
—Booklist

[A] dreamy collection.
—Publishers WeeklyJohnlÓ$