Crab Cake: Turning the Tide Together
by Andrea Tsurumi

Yes, this is a book about crab cake---but not cake made of crabs! Instead, a crab who makes cakes is the focal character in a mostly scientifically accurate undersea world (except for the baked goods). When a huge pile of trash is dumped into the ocean, Crab's hobby brings the undersea community together to solve the problem. Tsurumi's tale impressed the committee with its humor, detailed comic-style illustrations, and timely messages about ocean pollution and working together.

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Listen to the story

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Do a craft!

Take-and-Make reusable bag-making kits can be picked up curbside starting on March 2nd.
Call or email the library at 426-3581 or [email protected] to schedule your pickup.

To make your reusable bag, cut strips in the bottom of the t-shirt you are using, then tie the strips together.
Full instructions here.

To widen the opening of your bag, cut off the collar, following the seam. Full instructions here.

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Big Ideas & enduring Understanding

• You can contribute to building community through acts of kindness.
  
• The ocean is a vibrant, lively place that needs to be protected.
  
• Collaborating to solve problems invites multiple talents.
  

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Dig a little Deeper

Beyond the Book: Ideas, Questions, Projects and Connections:

• Watch Andrea Tsurumi speak about the book in a video specially created for Vermont students: https://youtu.be/mjrTdzycTVo

 

• Learn about coral reefs and the myriad creatures that live there. How are people affecting this habitat?
  • In our collection: The Brilliant Deep by Kate Messner
  • Use VOL to research: https://vtonlinelib.org/?loc=vol_m35
• Use the NASA Climate Kids site to explore factors that contribute to coral bleaching:
  • https://climatekids.nasa.gov/coral-bleaching/
• Plastic pollution in the ocean is a major challenge. Learn about the problem (Plasticus Maritimus by Ana Pego - check it out!) Then explore solutions to reduce plastic using the National Geographic Kids vs. Plastic site:
  • https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/nature/kids-vs-plastic/pollution/
• How do we as a society deal with trash? How do other cultures deal with it?
  • https://www.kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/recycling-for-kids/
• As of July 2020, we are no longer supposed to throw away food scraps in our trash bags. Why do you think that is? Did you know that there is only one landfill accepting trash to bury here in Vermont? How far is Coventry from you? https://cswd.net/trash/vermont-landfills/ Do you have a transfer station in your town?
• Learn about the Jr Ocean Guardians and their #nostrawnovember annual challenge. https://www.jroceanguardians.org/

• What do we learn about undersea creatures in the first few pages?
• Why does Crab bake a cake after the trash is dumped?
• How do the illustrations use color to create mood in this story?
• Why is Snapper the first one to come see if Crab baked a cake?
• How can we help protect the oceans?
• What can we do to process events and trauma out of our control?
• What makes a community? Look for ways that the creatures in Crab Cake show traits of good community members (sharing, working together, listening to everyone’s ideas, taking care of each other...). Create a list and see how you can be like them.
• Littering happens everywhere. Take a walk around your school grounds / neighborhood to look for and clean up any litter you can find. With older students, discuss the tradition of Green Up Day in Vermont: https://greenupvermont.org/
• Check out this blog post Andrea Tsurumi wrote about her inspiration for the book:
  • https://www.andreatsurumi.com/news/2019/1/22/why-crab-cake
    

Companion Books

Coral Reefs/Environment

• Plasticus Maritimus by Ana Pego
• Here Comes the Garbage Barge! by Jonah Winter
  
• The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs by Kate Messner
  

Processing Grief and Trauma

• Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell
  
• The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
  

Listen to a But Why Podcast about cleaning up the ocean!