The Crab Man

Based on the 1998 picture book written by Patricia E. Van West and illustrated by Cedric Lucas, this iconographic-animated adaptation--ably narrated by Faith Russell--tells the story of a young Jamaican boy named Neville, who is trying to raise money to buy his mother a new dress by collecting hermit crabs for the “crab man” to race for tourists at a local resort. One day, when the crab man's helper is sick, Neville carries the crabs to the resort himself, and is shocked to discover that the little creatures are being mistreated during “crab racin',” forced to repeatedly race without water or rest. Neville must make a decision: does he continue to help the crab man, or stand by indifferently, or rescue the crabs and set them free? A thought-provoking, universally-applicable tale about ethics and personal responsibility, this is recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (R. Pitman)