One fine day, a lobster boat captain sets out aboard the Kieran Scott with his sternmen (who happen to be a deer and a turtle) to haul their traps. Along the way, they encounter a lost cat and assist it in getting home to its island. Then, when they can’t find their buoys, they discover that a giant sea turtle is harvesting their catch for its family. Through negotiation and cooperation, a solution is found to benefit all before the crew heads home to safe harbor in Stonington.

In this special family collaboration with illustrations that capture the colors and ruggedness of Penobscot Bay, we learn that being a friendly lobsterman takes ingenuity and cooperation. The captain of the Kieran Scott has no trouble keeping everyone happy and well-fed while finding solutions to some momentous problems during this interesting day on the water.

—Lisa Herrington

A whimsical story extolling the virtues of a shared ecosystem in a magical place, made even more magical through family collaboration. Warning: this book will make you homesick for Deer Isle, Maine, even if you’ve never been!

—Naia Cucukov, executive producer of The Baby-Sitters Club

Ask the author: Click here for a conversation with Melissa Jones-Bayley on
the process of creating The Friendly Maine Lobstermen.