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Curry’s picture book recounts a tale of a lobster once told to her by a diver. The lobster lives in the big rocks and eats the food that falls down to it on the ocean floor. However, the lobster isn’t satisfied. It doesn’t know why it is made the way it is, or what purpose it serves. It begins questioning others, but no one has satisfactory answers. Eventually, the lobster becomes disconsolate and wanders away from home. The lobster is scooped up by a diver trapping lobsters to sell so he can feed his family. The diver is surprised when the lobster speaks to him. Once the diver tells the lobster how its sale to feed others will help the diver feed his family, the lobster realizes it does have a purpose. Knowing this, the lobster feels a sense of accomplishment as it is off to become someone’s dinner.
The illustrations comprise one of the most interesting features of this work. A different artist illustrates each page as a community-sourced project. It leads to great variety, and there are some really nice illustrations included. Although the diversity of the art can make the whole feel of the work a bit disjointed, it simultaneously causes the reader to pay more attention to the illustrations than in a typical picture book. The story of a creature, or any individual, seeking meaning in what seems like a meaningless existence is familiar to most. The intelligent lobster’s easy acceptance that its purpose in life is to be served up as someone’s dinner may leave a few unanswered questions, but parents may use a book like this to talk to their children about the food chain or seeking meaning in life.