365 bedtime stories

Chapter 6: JANUARY 4: The Selfish Oyster Crabs

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Children & Young Adult Reading Short Stories

About This Book

A year-long anthology of short, child-focused tales presenting one brief story for each day, blending animal fables, household incidents, seasonal scenes, and gentle fantasy. Stories are arranged by calendar day and often reflect the moods and activities of the seasons, holidays, and everyday childhood experiences. Narratives favor simple plots, quiet humor, and mild moral lessons suitable for bedtime reading, frequently featuring talking creatures, helpful fairies, and small domestic adventures. Numerous small illustrations accompany the text, reinforcing the warm, comforting tone and making the collection convenient to read aloud or share with young listeners.

JANUARY 4: The Selfish Oyster Crabs

“You know, I think oyster-crabs are perhaps the most selfish of all the sea animals,” began daddy. “The oyster-crabs really belong to the crab family. They are called oyster-crabs, however, because above all things they love the juice of an oyster and absolutely live on it. And what I am going to tell you about now is the way they get it.

“First of all, the oyster-crab hovers around the oysters and then picks out a nice, fat, juicy looking oyster, saying to himself: ‘You look as if you could feed me well without any effort. I think I will crawl into your shell.’ So then he crawls right inside the oyster’s shell and proceeds to enjoy himself. He prefers just to ‘sponge’ on others, as the expression goes!”