BARNACLE BAY

Pun-tastic introductions to kelp, sea stars, shellfish, and other residents of ocean shallows.

“You can run, but you can’t tide!” quips a sea star on the title page—giving fair warning of what’s in store as a crabby purple shore crab offers newly arrived Larva a tour of the local seafloor as the newcomer searches for a site to settle down. They make “best fronds” with a clump of indignant kelp who oust a garbage-strewing human snorkeler by tickling the interloper’s feet. Later, the pair meet a “clam-edian” with a “fine shell-ection” of other bivalves, then pause for closer looks at the behavior and anatomy of plankton and echinoderms. They also experience “tentacle difficulties” with “Friends ‘N’ Anemones” and take occasional timeouts for further goofy wordplay before watching night fall. “The moon is full of themselves tonight.” “Don’t worry, it’s just a phase.” There’s informational purpose behind all the drollery that swirls through Curll’s banter and cartoon panels; readers will readily absorb a substantial dose of nutritious facts. Ultimately Larva literally fastens on a suitable rock and changes into a barnacle, after which the two join their button-eyed community beneath a rushing wave in collectively waving goodbye to viewers.

A steady flow of slap-happy seafloor pun-ditry.