Harry the Hermit Crab, Danni Rae
Written by Danni Rae, Illustrated by Evan Heasman
Published by Little Love; 7 November 2023; RRP: $20.00
This delightful picture book is the second in a series from Wellington zookeeper Danni Rae, the first being Kara the Kakapo published in 2022. Danni’s story is paired with stunning illustrations from artist Evan Heasman (also known as Soju Shots), which are a visual feast with layers of detail to keep both children and adults enthralled.
Danni wrote Harry the Hermit Crab as a way to share her passion for conservation with the youngest of readers and inspire children to make their own conservation connections. Even the youngest among us can make a difference!
Reviews
Listen to Danni Rae talk with Jesse Mulligan on Radio New Zealand.
“As a zookeeper, Danni is passionate about conservation and Harry’s plight highlights the problem of plastic pollution on our beaches. Danni goes a step further by emphasising how we humans can help. She leaves readers with a plan of action that even the littlest of hands can achieve and the ethos of ‘leave nothing but footprints’ echoes throughout the book. ”
“....it’s not just about a crab finding the ideal home, it’s also about being tidy on the beach and doing a clean-up if you see rubbish... At the back of the book is information about Strawberry Hermit Crabs - I didn’t even know there was such a delightful creature - and other fascinating facts about hermit crabs. I love that they line up to change shells - how cute is that! ”
“Author, Danni Rae is a zookeeper who is passionate about raising awareness of conservation issues, and this charming little book will do just that for some of our youngest readers”
Note from the author
This story focuses on the challenges faced by one of the most iconic of coastal creatures. I really wanted to show the consequences of plastic pollution from the perspective of an individual so much smaller than ourselves. Because, what might seem insignificant to us, just a single bottle that fits into one hand could actually be a giant life changing problem when you are only the size of a Hermit Crab. I hope that children reading this story can glimpse the world through Harry’s eyes to gain a new perspective of a familiar place and how they have the power to protect it.
About the author
Danni Rae is a Wellington based zookeeper and conservationist with a passion for connecting children with animals and the environment. She has worked in Australia, New Zealand and Madagascar and wants to use her experience to inspire conservation connections through her engaging and educational animal adventure stories. When she isn't working, Danni can be found writing, reading, hiking and traveling!
Follow Danni Rae on:
Instagram: instagram.com/danniraebooks
Facebook: facebook.com/danniraebooks
About the illustrator
Evan Heasman (also known by the artist name Soju Shots) is an illustrator who takes great inspiration from nature and fairytales. He uses a combination of pen, watercolour, photography and digital mediums to create his characters and the magical worlds they come from. He works between his home in beautiful Waipu and his little studio in Whangarei.
Follow Evan Heasman/Soju Shots on Instagram: instagram.com/soju_shots
