Shelly's New Shell


Children - Picture Book
35 Pages
Reviewed on 08/20/2014
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Elisabeth Ekornes, born in Oslo, Norway, received Editors Choice Award from The International Library of Poetry. She has sold her poetry to Hallmark Greeting Cards through Aune Publisher in Norway, and has written articles for Majorstuen AS, a Norwegian newspaper. In Los Angeles, she was hired by CineMagnetics as a film translator from English to Norwegian, and wrote the subtitles for films like Chocolate, Meet the Parents, and Bridget Jones's Diary. She also worked as a translator for Crest National, and did the subtitles for the film About a Boy, and Simone. She also did the proofreading and the QC for "The Bucket List" and "Superman Returns" for Crest National, and many more.

Elisabeth is a self-taught artist who found her own style. She had an exhibition at the SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators.) Conference in Los Angeles in 1999 and 2006.

Elisabeth received a Bachelor of Arts in Music/Voice from the Music Conservatory in Oslo. She worked extensively in her native country as a singer and actress, where she appeared on television as Otilie in The White Horse, and on the radio in Classical Concerts on Norwegian Broadcasting's Channels 1 and 2. Elisabeth toured Norway to great acclaim in many roles she played, including Polly in The Threepenny Opera, Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Musico in Vive La Mama, and Constance in Gjest Baardsen's Last Escape. She has the honor of receiving several awards/grants as an exceptional performer, highlighted by the prestigious Peter Bing Drejer Sundt Award given by the Norwegian Equity for Talented Actors.

Elisabeth was invited to come to the United States as a singer at the Leiv Eriksson Festival in Minneapolis, and the Norsk Hostfest in North Dakota. In the United States, she performed for His Royal Highness, Crown-Prince Haakon, of Norway.


Elisabeth currently teaches voice and beginning piano in Los Angeles, California. Shelly's New Shell is her first children's book.




    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Shelly’s New Shell is a children’s fable written and illustrated by Elisabeth Ekornes. Shelly is a hermit crab who loves to play in the ocean’s waves and has a lot of fun with her hermit crab friends. One day, she looks at Crabelina’s shell, which is a pretty pink. Shelly’s shell is brown, and she wishes she had a pretty pink shell like Crabelina. Shelly challenges the other hermit crabs to a race and notices that Crabelina is much slower than the rest. Shelly tells Crabelina that she’s slower because of her heavy shell, and she offers to trade shells with Crabelina. Crabelina agrees, and Shelly is thrilled with her new pink shell. She’s not prepared, however, for the problems she’ll have because of that pretty new shell.


Elisabeth Ekornes' children's fable, Shelly's New Shell, is a beautifully written story that teaches that someone else's shell, or coat, or hat is not necessarily better than what you've already got. Shelly learns that lesson in a funny and entertaining story. Ekornes also illustrated her book and each picture is marvelous, with brilliant and bold coloring, and comical figures. I especially liked the picture of Shelly in her new pink shell -- she's wearing a huge grin, and her eyes are agleam with delight. My other favorite is the seagull with the glass stuck on its head, but, to be honest, each picture has its charm and is perfectly matched with the story. Shelly's New Shell is a fable that teaches while it entertains, and it does so brilliantly.