Cracker the Crab and the Sideways Afternoon is a fictional children's book that will appeal to a wide range of age groups. It can be read aloud to younger children, and read alone by older children, and parents will enjoy it as well. The book's message is that even a little bit of kindness can be life-changing. Cracker's "sideways afternoon" teaches him lessons about being kind, showing forgiveness, being a hero, feeling too proud, accepting others and himself, and listening to his inner voice to find his way home -- good lessons to learn at any age.