An American Wind in the Willows, this charming tale of Mr. Lobster and his underwater and dry land friends celebrates curiousity and having an open mind, and will be sure to delight children and parents.

Whether you are five or one hundred and five, chances are you’ve never met a lobster as learned and charming as Mr. Lobster—and he’d be the very first to tell you so. Mr. Lobster has evaded the fisherman’s trap for decades, but life in his corner of the ocean seems duller by the day. The time has come to seek new adventures, new friends, and even—gasp!—new, dry lands. Dry land is of course perilous for a saltwater-dwelling creature, as are the folks you can meet there, like badgers, bears, birds, and snakes. But Mr. Lobster has a way of turning every enemy into a dear friend and of escaping the scrapes his curiosity gets him into.

An American Wind in the Willows, The Curious Lobster stories have been delighting a small and devoted fellowship of readers for going on eighty years. Sweet but not cloying, instructive but not didactic, they acknowledge the challenges of getting along with others and celebrate the possibilities of a life lived beyond the normal swim of things.

This edition collects all of Richard W. Hatch’s Mr. Lobster stories, originally published in two volumes The Curious Lobster and The Curious Lobster’s Island. "Each adventure is related in its own chapter, but the episodes do string together into a cohesive narrative. The humor often relies on an Alice in Wonderland—style logic…This title could work well as a read-aloud, providing ample opportunities for discussing the natural world and interpersonal (or inter-animal) dynamics…." —School Library Journal, July 2018

"Hatch writes in a soothing, quietly humorous, style that works for adults and children of varied ages and Wakeman's illustrations match the calming qualities of the text. The Curious Lobster is a perfect bedtime family read aloud or a read-alone for a rainy day at a beachside cottage." —Melinda Greenblatt, Shelf Awareness

"Hatch writes in a soothing, quietly humorous, style that works for adults and children of varied ages and Wakeman's illustrations match the calming qualities of the text. The Curious Lobster is a perfect bedtime family read aloud or a read-alone for a rainy day at a beachside cottage." —Melinda Greenblatt, Shelf Awareness

"Curiosity, courage, forbearance and friendship are themes at the heart of The Curious Lobster, an engaging story for children and adults alike...[The Curious Lobster] is brimming with adventures that stir thoughts on friendship, prudence, seeking to find the best in others and the bright side of all misfortunes. The exquisite pen-and-ink illustrations by Marion Freeman Wakemen are spare and focused, yet poignant and dramatic. The book is well suited to be read aloud to young children and to be savored by adults." —Portland Press Herald

"The stories of Mr. Lobster aren't just charming—they show the difficulties of getting along with others, celebrating the possibilities of keeping an open mind, and present the opportunity to join Mr. Lobster in recognizing there are still 'several things' he doesn't yet know." —Vermont Country Sampler

“There is a homely wisdom and a pithy philosophy in the Mr. Lobster stories which adults as well as children enjoy. This book shows, too, a genuine love of out of doors; sea and woods and meadow.... So convincing are the haunts of Mr. Lobster and his friends that the city dweller reading this book feels that he too, has withdrawn for a little into a place where he is aware of sunrise and sunset, stars and tides, as a part of the beauty and eventfulness of life.… The drawings by Marion Wakeman have distinction and beauty and are keyed to the humor and imagination of the text.” —The New York Times Book Review

"A very entertaining story of a lobster whose curiousity led him far afield and into all sorts of adventures. Delightfully illustrated." —Kirkus Reviews