Sharing a Shell

Meet two friends at the beach this summer in this charming seaside story from the brilliant Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, creators of What the Ladybird Heard.

With funny rhyming verse, bright and distinctive illustrations, Sharing a Shell is loved by children and parents alike – perfect for reading together!

Ideal for keeping kids busy during the summer, it’s the ultimate boredom-busting companion for quiet time at home or on the go.

When Crab finds a new shell, he doesn't want to share it with anyone – especially not a blobby purple anemone and a tickly bristleworm. But life in the rock pool proves tougher than Crab thinks and he soon finds he needs his new housemates.


‘Sunny story . . . clear characterful pictures and jolly verse for reading out loud’ - Independent

Discover more picture books from Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, the bestselling team behind the What the Ladybird Heard adventures: Sugarlump and the Unicorn, The Singing Mermaid and The Princess and the Wizard.

Julia Donaldson has written some of the world's best-loved children's books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, which together have sold over 18 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over one hundred languages. Her other books include Room on the Broom, Stick Man and Zog, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, The Hospital Dog, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures, illustrated by Lydia Monks. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle series, illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs – and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the UK Children’s Laureate 2011–13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia divides her time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.