The Invisible Whale (Crab and Snail #1)

by Beth Ferry, Jared Chapman (Illustrator)

Overview

Join Crab and Snail in the surf zone, where they think deep thoughts and have unforgettable seaside adventures, in this graphic early reader series debut by New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry and beloved illustrator Jared Chapman.

The never-ending rain is putting a damper on Crab and Snail’s plans for a sunny, funny day. So when the BBFs (Best Beach Friends) realize that it’s only raining on them, they put their heads together and consult one know-it-all gull (he really does know it all!) to get to the bottom of it. By the time the rain clears, the duo will have made a new friend and learned something new and wonderful about friendship!

Crab and Snail are everyone’s next favorite characters in the graphic early reader space. Fans of Narwhal & Jelly; Pea, Bee, & Jay; and Arlo & Pips will love these quirky characters and clever stories.

"A character-based volume that reads like a cross between SpongeBob SquarePants and The Muppet Show."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062962140
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/22/2022
Series:	Crab and Snail , #1
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Beth Ferry is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous picture books, including Stick and Stone, The Scarecrow, and The Nice Dream Truck. She lives with her family in New Jersey.

Jared Chapman is the author-illustrator of the popular books Vegetables in Underwear and Fruits in Suits. Other books he has written and illustrated include Steve, Raised by Wolves and Pirate, Viking & Scientist. He is the illustrator of Wordplay and several other picture books. Jared was born in Louisiana, grew up in Texas, went to college in Georgia, and now calls the piney woods of northeast Texas his home. Visit him at jaredchapman.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/10/2022

This inaugural title in a graphic novel series introduces two “best beach friends” who inhabit the surf zone—the definition of which is one of several bits of marine trivia worked into the story. When Crab and Salty Snail suddenly find themselves in a strange downpour (they’re the only ones getting wet), the Know-It-All gull reveals that the source is spray from an inexplicably invisible whale named Isabel, who wants to be their friend. (“I feel sparkly inside,” says Crab, when the group successfully connects via a Super Smile.) Chapman’s (Vegetables in Underwear) crisp, minimalist line art is well paced to amplify the comic timing of Ferry’s (Swashby and the Sea) dialogue, creating a character-based volume that reads like a cross between SpongeBob SquarePants and The Muppet Show: there’s a passel of adorably goofy marine characters, lots of snappy repartee, and even a wisecracking chorus in the form of two barnacle brothers. All the pieces are in place for a promising run. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 6–10. Author’s agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. Illustrator’s agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

You won't find a funnier, more expressive crustacean and whatever-a-snail is duo!

Bob Shea

Beth Ferry's story and Jared Chapman's art go together perfectly... just like Crab and Snail!

Tom Angelberger

Fun, informative, visually appealing, and all sorts of clawsomeness! This book snails it.

Ben Clanton

It's not hard to sea what's so funny with Crab & Snail - they'll turn the tide on your rainy day blues!

Jeffrey Brown

Wow! Crab and Snail are sure to make a big splash with young readers.

Geisel Award winner Greg Pizzoli 

A character-based volume that reads like a cross between SpongeBob SquarePants and The Muppet Show: there’s a passel of adorably goofy marine characters, lots of snappy repartee, and even a wisecracking chorus in the form of two barnacle brothers.  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Fun, informative, visually appealing, and all sorts of clawsomeness! This book snails it. — Ben Clanton, Bestselling author of the Narwhal and Jellyfish series

Wow! Crab and Snail are sure to make a big splash with young readers. — Geisel Award winner Greg Pizzoli 

You won't find a funnier, more expressive crustacean and whatever-a-snail is duo! — Bob Shea, creator of Ballet Cat

Beth Ferry's story and Jared Chapman's art go together perfectly... just like Crab and Snail! — Tom Angelberger, author of the Origami Yoda series

It's not hard to sea what's so funny with Crab & Snail - they'll turn the tide on your rainy day blues! — Jeffrey Brown, author of Darth Vader and Son and My Teacher Is A Robot

From the Publisher