{"id":8023219437805,"title":"The Lobster Lady","handle":"the-lobster-lady","description":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/alexandra-hinrichs\"\u003eAlexandra S. D. Hinrichs\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jamie-hogan\"\u003eJamie Hogan\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Lobster Lady wakes while the world still sleeps. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill hauling lobsters at over 100 years old, Virginia Oliver is admired in the state of Maine and beyond. She has been lobstering on and off for over 93 years and is fondly known as the Lobster Lady among locals. Virginia is a native of Rockland, Maine. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Lobster Lady\u003c\/em\u003e chronicles a day in Virginia's life while illuminating all that she remembers from growing up and starting a family on the mainland in Maine and on her family’s island, called the Neck. Readers get a sense of Virginia’s life and an idea of all that goes into lobster harvesting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLyrically told and beautifully illustrated, \u003cem\u003eThe Lobster Lady\u003c\/em\u003e is a tribute to the incredible life of a Maine icon and female pioneer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dory-story\"\u003eDory Story\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-spread.jpg?v=1667585924\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667585924\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1667585925\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-activity-kit.pdf?v=1691677397\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlexandra S. D. Hinrichs, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlexandra S. D. Hinrichs has worked as a historical researcher at American Girl, a children’s librarian, and a children’s bookseller among other things. She earned MAs in United States History and Library \u0026amp; Information Studies and is the author of several children’s books, including \u003cem\u003eThe Lobster Lady; The Traveling Camera: Lewis Hine and the Fight to End Child Labor;\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e Thérèse Makes a Tapestry.\u003c\/em\u003e  Alexandra is currently a middle-school librarian in Bangor, Maine. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/alexandra-hinrichs\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Alexandra.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJamie Hogan, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJamie Hogan is an award-winning illustrator living off on the coast of Maine on Peaks Island. She has illustrated many books for children, including \u003cem\u003eRickshaw Girl \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Tiger Boy.\u003c\/em\u003e She is the author and illustrator of\u003cem\u003e Skywatcher.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jamie-hogan\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Jamie. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e This sweet, beautifully illustrated tale of one exceptional seafaring grandmother and her life in\nthe Pine Tree State follows “the Lobster Lady,” Virginia Oliver, the oldest person lobstering in\nMaine. As the 102-year-old goes out on the boat for the day, she’s given a chance to reflect on\nover 90 years of lobstering and how, in the many decades of her life, she’s seen changes in her\ntown, on the water, and in the trade. In a narrative told largely in short vignettes of flashbacks\nsure to resonate in places where traditional industries are a cultural touchstone, Virginia reflects\non her pioneering life as the Lobster Lady to her family, friends, and the doctor stitching up a\ngash from a crab. While the illustrations are beautiful and soft, and the story is quiet and\nreflective, a child reader will likely need some adult assistance to grasp the context. For fans of\npicture-book biographies that are quiet, gentle reflections on a life lived boldly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaine librarian Hinrichs profiles 102-year-old Virginia Oliver, “the oldest person lobstering in Maine, and maybe even in the world!”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Lobster Lady rises before dawn, eats breakfast, and sets out with her adult son Max to her boat (named Virginia after her years ago). Out on the water they pull their traps, measure and sort the lobsters, and band the claws of the keepers. When Virginia sets aside a crab, it claws her, and the injury requires stitches. The doctor’s tactless question—”What were you doing out there anyway?”—prompts a flow of memories: spending childhood summers on the Neck, an island where her father ran a store and blacksmith shop; returning the rest of the year to live with her aunts and grandparents on the mainland and attend school; learning to helm a boat; marrying a lobsterman; and doing various jobs but finally joining him on the water. The backmatter includes more information about the subject, changes in the industry and community, two simple recipes, and sources, including numerous admiring media accounts. This inspiring story is set on full-bleed images done with chalk pastel on roughened paper that convey a strong sense of the waterwoman’s world, the boats, the sea, the sky. Even more than the matter-of-fact text, the saturated illustrations chronicle Oliver’s long life and convey a rich sense of history. Most characters present White.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA cleverly told, engaging portrayal of an indomitable woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe amazing, 102-year-old Virginia Oliver goes out lobstering in Maine. Early in the morning, she is ready to go out on the boat with her son, Max. Her onboard tasks include preparing the bait for the traps, sorting the crustaceans, and banding the claws. Based on her personal experience, it can be dangerous and painful when the large claws snap close. Virginia shares moments from her childhood and life which the illustrator Hogan captures in bordered drawings created in pastels. She is passionate about lobstering; other jobs during her life did not fulfill her the same way. At the back of the book, there is additional information about Virginia, changes and challenges in lobstering industry, and recipes for a lobster roll and bean supper. Author Hinrichs lists different sources along with personal interviews used for the story; readers may want to explore the websites which include videos and articles documenting this remarkable Lobster Lady. Teachers may include this book in a unit on biographies, women, or incredible people. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-393-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 9\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2023-01-13T09:44:15-05:00","created_at":"2022-11-07T12:09:14-05:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Food \u0026 Nutrition","Browse by Subject_Geography","Browse by Subject_History \u0026 Biography","Browse by Subject_Story Time \u0026 Play"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43471443067117,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"43938","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":38074433143021,"product_id":8023219437805,"position":1,"created_at":"2022-11-07T12:13:37-05:00","updated_at":"2022-11-07T12:13:39-05:00","alt":null,"width":600,"height":493,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667841219","variant_ids":[43471443067117]},"available":true,"name":"The Lobster Lady - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623543938","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":30660259610861,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.217,"height":493,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667841219"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667841219"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667841219","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":30660259610861,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.217,"height":493,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667841219"},"aspect_ratio":1.217,"height":493,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667841219","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch6\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/alexandra-hinrichs\"\u003eAlexandra S. D. Hinrichs\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jamie-hogan\"\u003eJamie Hogan\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Lobster Lady wakes while the world still sleeps. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStill hauling lobsters at over 100 years old, Virginia Oliver is admired in the state of Maine and beyond. She has been lobstering on and off for over 93 years and is fondly known as the Lobster Lady among locals. Virginia is a native of Rockland, Maine. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Lobster Lady\u003c\/em\u003e chronicles a day in Virginia's life while illuminating all that she remembers from growing up and starting a family on the mainland in Maine and on her family’s island, called the Neck. Readers get a sense of Virginia’s life and an idea of all that goes into lobster harvesting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLyrically told and beautifully illustrated, \u003cem\u003eThe Lobster Lady\u003c\/em\u003e is a tribute to the incredible life of a Maine icon and female pioneer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/dory-story\"\u003eDory Story\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-spread.jpg?v=1667585924\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript type=\"text\/javascript\" async=\"\" defer data-pin-shape=\"round\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-cover.jpg?v=1667585924\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1667585925\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/lobster-lady-activity-kit.pdf?v=1691677397\"\u003eDownload the Activity Kit\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlexandra S. D. Hinrichs, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlexandra S. D. Hinrichs has worked as a historical researcher at American Girl, a children’s librarian, and a children’s bookseller among other things. She earned MAs in United States History and Library \u0026amp; Information Studies and is the author of several children’s books, including \u003cem\u003eThe Lobster Lady; The Traveling Camera: Lewis Hine and the Fight to End Child Labor;\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e Thérèse Makes a Tapestry.\u003c\/em\u003e  Alexandra is currently a middle-school librarian in Bangor, Maine. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/alexandra-hinrichs\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Alexandra.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJamie Hogan, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJamie Hogan is an award-winning illustrator living off on the coast of Maine on Peaks Island. She has illustrated many books for children, including \u003cem\u003eRickshaw Girl \u003c\/em\u003eand\u003cem\u003e Tiger Boy.\u003c\/em\u003e She is the author and illustrator of\u003cem\u003e Skywatcher.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/jamie-hogan\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Jamie. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComing soon!\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e This sweet, beautifully illustrated tale of one exceptional seafaring grandmother and her life in\nthe Pine Tree State follows “the Lobster Lady,” Virginia Oliver, the oldest person lobstering in\nMaine. As the 102-year-old goes out on the boat for the day, she’s given a chance to reflect on\nover 90 years of lobstering and how, in the many decades of her life, she’s seen changes in her\ntown, on the water, and in the trade. In a narrative told largely in short vignettes of flashbacks\nsure to resonate in places where traditional industries are a cultural touchstone, Virginia reflects\non her pioneering life as the Lobster Lady to her family, friends, and the doctor stitching up a\ngash from a crab. While the illustrations are beautiful and soft, and the story is quiet and\nreflective, a child reader will likely need some adult assistance to grasp the context. For fans of\npicture-book biographies that are quiet, gentle reflections on a life lived boldly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaine librarian Hinrichs profiles 102-year-old Virginia Oliver, “the oldest person lobstering in Maine, and maybe even in the world!”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Lobster Lady rises before dawn, eats breakfast, and sets out with her adult son Max to her boat (named Virginia after her years ago). Out on the water they pull their traps, measure and sort the lobsters, and band the claws of the keepers. When Virginia sets aside a crab, it claws her, and the injury requires stitches. The doctor’s tactless question—”What were you doing out there anyway?”—prompts a flow of memories: spending childhood summers on the Neck, an island where her father ran a store and blacksmith shop; returning the rest of the year to live with her aunts and grandparents on the mainland and attend school; learning to helm a boat; marrying a lobsterman; and doing various jobs but finally joining him on the water. The backmatter includes more information about the subject, changes in the industry and community, two simple recipes, and sources, including numerous admiring media accounts. This inspiring story is set on full-bleed images done with chalk pastel on roughened paper that convey a strong sense of the waterwoman’s world, the boats, the sea, the sky. Even more than the matter-of-fact text, the saturated illustrations chronicle Oliver’s long life and convey a rich sense of history. Most characters present White.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA cleverly told, engaging portrayal of an indomitable woman.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe amazing, 102-year-old Virginia Oliver goes out lobstering in Maine. Early in the morning, she is ready to go out on the boat with her son, Max. Her onboard tasks include preparing the bait for the traps, sorting the crustaceans, and banding the claws. Based on her personal experience, it can be dangerous and painful when the large claws snap close. Virginia shares moments from her childhood and life which the illustrator Hogan captures in bordered drawings created in pastels. She is passionate about lobstering; other jobs during her life did not fulfill her the same way. At the back of the book, there is additional information about Virginia, changes and challenges in lobstering industry, and recipes for a lobster roll and bean supper. Author Hinrichs lists different sources along with personal interviews used for the story; readers may want to explore the websites which include videos and articles documenting this remarkable Lobster Lady. Teachers may include this book in a unit on biographies, women, or incredible people. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-393-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-8\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e11 x 9\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

The Lobster Lady


By: Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs / Illustrated by: Jamie Hogan

The Lobster Lady wakes while the world still sleeps. 

Still hauling lobsters at over 100 years old, Virginia Oliver is admired in the state of Maine and beyond. She has been lobstering on and off for over 93 years and is fondly known as the Lobster Lady among locals. Virginia is a native of Rockland, Maine. 

The Lobster Lady chronicles a day in Virginia's life while illuminating all that she remembers from growing up and starting a family on the mainland in Maine and on her family’s island, called the Neck. Readers get a sense of Virginia’s life and an idea of all that goes into lobster harvesting.

Lyrically told and beautifully illustrated, The Lobster Lady is a tribute to the incredible life of a Maine icon and female pioneer.

Maximum quantity available reached.

Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs, author

Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs has worked as a historical researcher at American Girl, a children’s librarian, and a children’s bookseller among other things. She earned MAs in United States History and Library & Information Studies and is the author of several children’s books, including The Lobster Lady; The Traveling Camera: Lewis Hine and the Fight to End Child Labor; and Thérèse Makes a Tapestry.  Alexandra is currently a middle-school librarian in Bangor, Maine. 

Read more about Alexandra.


Jamie Hogan, illustrator

Jamie Hogan is an award-winning illustrator living off on the coast of Maine on Peaks Island. She has illustrated many books for children, including Rickshaw Girl and Tiger Boy. She is the author and illustrator of Skywatcher.

Read more about Jamie. 

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This sweet, beautifully illustrated tale of one exceptional seafaring grandmother and her life in the Pine Tree State follows “the Lobster Lady,” Virginia Oliver, the oldest person lobstering in Maine. As the 102-year-old goes out on the boat for the day, she’s given a chance to reflect on over 90 years of lobstering and how, in the many decades of her life, she’s seen changes in her town, on the water, and in the trade. In a narrative told largely in short vignettes of flashbacks sure to resonate in places where traditional industries are a cultural touchstone, Virginia reflects on her pioneering life as the Lobster Lady to her family, friends, and the doctor stitching up a gash from a crab. While the illustrations are beautiful and soft, and the story is quiet and reflective, a child reader will likely need some adult assistance to grasp the context. For fans of picture-book biographies that are quiet, gentle reflections on a life lived boldly.

Kirkus Reviews

Maine librarian Hinrichs profiles 102-year-old Virginia Oliver, “the oldest person lobstering in Maine, and maybe even in the world!”

The Lobster Lady rises before dawn, eats breakfast, and sets out with her adult son Max to her boat (named Virginia after her years ago). Out on the water they pull their traps, measure and sort the lobsters, and band the claws of the keepers. When Virginia sets aside a crab, it claws her, and the injury requires stitches. The doctor’s tactless question—”What were you doing out there anyway?”—prompts a flow of memories: spending childhood summers on the Neck, an island where her father ran a store and blacksmith shop; returning the rest of the year to live with her aunts and grandparents on the mainland and attend school; learning to helm a boat; marrying a lobsterman; and doing various jobs but finally joining him on the water. The backmatter includes more information about the subject, changes in the industry and community, two simple recipes, and sources, including numerous admiring media accounts. This inspiring story is set on full-bleed images done with chalk pastel on roughened paper that convey a strong sense of the waterwoman’s world, the boats, the sea, the sky. Even more than the matter-of-fact text, the saturated illustrations chronicle Oliver’s long life and convey a rich sense of history. Most characters present White.

A cleverly told, engaging portrayal of an indomitable woman.

Children's Literature

The amazing, 102-year-old Virginia Oliver goes out lobstering in Maine. Early in the morning, she is ready to go out on the boat with her son, Max. Her onboard tasks include preparing the bait for the traps, sorting the crustaceans, and banding the claws. Based on her personal experience, it can be dangerous and painful when the large claws snap close. Virginia shares moments from her childhood and life which the illustrator Hogan captures in bordered drawings created in pastels. She is passionate about lobstering; other jobs during her life did not fulfill her the same way. At the back of the book, there is additional information about Virginia, changes and challenges in lobstering industry, and recipes for a lobster roll and bean supper. Author Hinrichs lists different sources along with personal interviews used for the story; readers may want to explore the websites which include videos and articles documenting this remarkable Lobster Lady. Teachers may include this book in a unit on biographies, women, or incredible people.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-393-8

Ages: 5-8
Page count: 32
11 x 9