Take a Crustacean Vacation at the Children's Museum

[Parenting NH Administrator]

DOVER — Feeling a bit crabby? Then be a little shellfish and join author Brian Benoit and illustrator Marty Kelley to celebrate the release of their new picture book, Crustacean Vacation, on Saturday, June 2, 2 to 4 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St. in Dover.

Special programs, at 2 and 2:45 will include a reading of Crustacean Vacation by the author, art activities led by the illustrator, a question and answer period, book signing, and more. There will even be a chance to take a photograph of yourself as an octopus lifeguard, one of the characters from the book. Admission to the museum is $9, free for members.

In addition, a “Crab Walk to a Cure” event will take place at 1 p.m. at the Henry Law Park, in front of the museum. Participants are invited to make a pledge and do a 100-yard crab walk. All proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Crab walkers will receive $1 off the museum admission price.

In Crustacean Vacation, a curious family of crabs venture on land to picnic on the beach, play games in a boardwalk arcade, and slide in a water park. This is no ordinary boardwalk. Here, a seagull runs the candy store, a shark manages the tattoo parlor, a seahorse hawks prizes, and yes, the lifeguard is an octopus. Young readers will delight in the clever rhyming verses paired with wacky and wonderful illustrations from the imagination of acclaimed New Hampshire artist Marty Kelley.

Kelley is the author and illustrator of several children’s books, including Fall Is Not Easy, The Rules, Winter Woes, Summer Stinks, Spring Goes Squish, The Messiest Desk, and Twelve Terrible Things. He has been a second grade teacher, a baker, a cartoonist, a newspaper art director, a drummer in a heavy metal band, a balloon delivery guy, and an animator. Now he visits lots of schools to show students how he creates his books.

Originally from Somersworth, author Brian Benoit now listens for the roar of the surf deep in the woods of Cavendish, Vt. His sea creatures were originally conjured up to entertain his brother during family trips on the Maine coast, but have since proven popular with his own children. He shares his life with his wife, Jennifer; daughter, Emery; and son, Liam. Crustacean Vacation is his first children’s book.

For more information, go to www.childrens-museum.org.