The Shell Book [Hardcover]

Barbara Hirsch Lember (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

In this striking book of hand-tinted photographs, Barbara Hirsch Lember turns her eye toward the world of shells. Choosing fourteen shells commonly found along the shores of the United States, she reveals the stunning beauty of each one, transforming the most ordinary into the extraordinary. Each shell is photographed close-up and accompanied by a short, infor-mation-packed description. Ms. Lember describes, for instance, how Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans used to make a rich purple dye out of a yellowish fluid secreted by the Cabbage Murex when it was boiled and treated. This dye was then used to color cloth worn by emperors and Roman senators. The Shell Book is a book for anyone who has ever walked along the beach and paused to pick up a shell at their feet.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. Lember uses a set of 14 hand-tinted still-life photographs to introduce a selection of sea shells that can be found along the North American coastline. Double-page spreads feature a photograph on the right and an explanation on the left. Though brief, the text contains numerous bits of information. Children will be fascinated to discover snails that sit on their eggs, swimming bivalves, and murexes that can be boiled to make purple dye. Further input and discussion with a knowledgeable adult are probably necessary, but the book provides a fine stepping-off point. Latin family names are given along with the actual size (in inches) for each shell pictured. The muted tints and soft, hazy quality of the photographs almost conflict with the factual style of the writing. While it is obvious that the intent is to create a sense of visual artistry, one can't help wondering whether the technique employed isn't simply "gilding the lily."?Lisa Wu Stowe, Great Neck Library, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Lember (A Book of Fruit, 1994) presents portraits of 14 sea shells--common to rare--with brief accompanying text in this subtle celebration of art in nature. The shells have names that recall prize roses: Chestnut Cowrie, Giant Keyhole Limpet, Lettered Olive, Katharine's Chiton, Lion's Paw, etc. For each, Lember has hand-tinted a black-and- white photograph of a single empty shell against a textured background, e.g., the open blue mussel shell nestles in the curve of a piece of driftwood, with the pattern of the wood repeated in the dark exterior of the shell. Borders of buff, ecru, slate, sea foam, or peach frame the photographs and text and complement the colors of the shells. Some of the odd facts intrigue, e.g., that the yellow secretions of one creature became the rich purple dye for the robes of Roman senators. The text assumes some prior knowledge of sea creatures who once inhabited the now-empty shells; Lember notes without explanation that conchs are mollusks propelling themselves with their strong foot, that the mussel uses its byssal thread to attach itself to surfaces, and that Volutes are gastropods that can crawl rapidly. The text names the family each shell belongs to, and gives an approximate size. A book to inspire further research and wonder--where are the creatures who once lived here? (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-11) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (March 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395720303
• ISBN-13: 978-0395720301
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,402,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The illustrations were not what I'd hoped, September 18, 2008

By 

Hope Russell "HopeR" (Indiana) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shell Book (Hardcover)

As a book for learning it would be very dry reading. I bought it to decorate with the illustrations; however I was disappointed by the artwork.

3.0 out of 5 stars variety of shells, January 10, 2011

By 

Jan Pullen - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shell Book (Hardcover)

Its a nice book. pretty pictures of a variety of shells. Not a lot of information about them or where you can find them but I liked it for identifying the shells.