Raffy’sOcean FriendsOUR GROWING CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
There are more friends to meet along the coast. Some have songs to share. Some love making things. There’s room for every one of them.
A FREE LITTLE ADVENTURE
A pencil, a few loops and a little time. Print this one-page activity and make a pattern of your own, inspired by Pip’s sand art in Raffy and the Walking Shell.
For families, libraries and classrooms. No sign-up needed. Draw together, take turns or enjoy watching.
Slow down with Raffy, meet Hermie, and discover Pip’s sand patterns and Scribbles’ changing ink drawings. Raffy and the Walking Shell is available now in paperback and Kindle ebook.
Our ocean. Our planet. Our friends. Let’s look after them together.
Some of these neighbours already have stories to share, while others are getting ready for future adventures. Meet Pip and Scribbles in Raffy and the Walking Shell, now available in paperback and Kindle ebook.
MEET DAZZA IN HIS FIRST STORY
Dazza loves catching waves. An enormous splash brings him a speedy new friend in Willa and the Big Splash.
Read Dazza’s story
MEET SARGE IN HIS FIRST STORY
A slightly bossy, very lovable soldier crab. Meet Sarge and his two recruits in Raffy and the Wake-Up Squad.
Read Sarge’s story
MEET SCRIBBLES IN THE WALKING SHELL
The squid with an artistic streak
“What shall I draw today?”
Scribbles draws with ink that curls and drifts into new shapes. His pictures do not stay for long, but that leaves room for another idea and another chance to practise. Meet him in Raffy and the Walking Shell.
MEET PIP IN THE WALKING SHELL
The pufferfish who makes sand patterns
“Look what a little fin can make!”
Pip makes beautiful patterns in the sand, with winding lines and carefully shaped ridges. Slow down with Raffy and his friends to discover his artwork before the tide washes it away. Meet him in Raffy and the Walking Shell.
MEET ARLO IN HIS FIRST STORY
An older octopus who loves to build and fix
“Let’s see what we can try together.”
Calm, patient Arlo enjoys making things and finding ways to mend them. He gives the younger friends time to think, try and share their own ideas.
Read Raffy and Arlo’s Amazing Workshop →
A free illustrated mini story. No sign-up needed.
Meet him in his coral-side workshop, where eight busy arms help turn Raffy’s idea into a new jump.
A NEW FRIEND · COMING SOON
The fiddler crab with a wave to share
“Over here! Can you see my wave?”
Flick has one big nipper for waving and signalling. There are lots of ways he could join the friends’ games. We’re still discovering his favourite things to do.
A NEW FRIEND · COMING SOON
An older humpback with a song to share
“Every friend has something to add.”
Gentle, calm Hugo loves to sing. He will be an older guide for Raffy and the friends, with time to listen as well as a song to share.
A NEW FRIEND · COMING SOON
A little prawn who looks out for his friends
“Can I help? I’ll check behind us!”
Small, lively and eager to help, he can flick his tail and dart backwards. On adventures, he keeps a lookout behind the group to see if anyone is following. He loves copying a rhythm and adding a move of his own. Sometimes he rushes ahead of the plan! He’s learning to listen first—and to ask a friend when he’s not sure.
TWO NEW GUEST FRIENDS
CASSIE THE CASSOWARY
Cassie is a young cassowary with a confident stride and a friendly smile. She loves meeting new friends and is happy to take charge when there’s something to do.
Strong and welcoming, Cassie brings an easy confidence to the friends’ growing coastal world.
Read Clancy and Cassie’s Noisy Discovery →
A free illustrated mini story. No sign-up needed.
BENNY THE SATIN BOWERBIRD
In a leafy forest inland, Benny loves a beautiful find. Blue flowers and feathers, a shiny silver coin or a glint of foil: every treasure deserves just the right place beside his carefully built bower.
He’s particular about where everything goes, but so enthusiastic about a new discovery that he can always make room for one more.
Read Benny and the Beautiful Blue Shell →
A free illustrated mini story. No sign-up needed.
OUR GROWING CIRCLE
A NEW GUEST FRIEND
No hurry. Plenty of humour.
Doug is never in a hurry, and he has a great sense of humour. There’s time to enjoy the company, take in the view and share a good joke.
A new guest friend. His first story is still to come.
A NEW GUEST FRIEND
A little friend who loves to dance
Nelly loves to dance! Her colourful, rippling body brings a little movement and delight to the underwater world.
A new guest friend. Her first story is still to come.
A NEW GUEST FRIEND
Ready or not, here comes Cam!
Cameron is Cam to his friends, and he loves playing hide-and-seek. Look closely around the rocks. That lovely pattern might belong to a playful friend.
A new guest friend. His first story is still to come.
A NEW GUEST FRIEND
Happy to amble along
Keith is easygoing and happy to take his time. He can swim, but he also enjoys walking along the bottom on his fins, seeing what’s about and enjoying the company.
A new guest friend. His first story is still to come.
A NEW GUEST FRIEND
Take a look. Then go, Anna!
Anna usually likes to stroll and observe, noticing the little things along the way. But when it’s time for action, this young goanna is fearless. She can swim and move quickly through the underbrush. Her friends have just the cheer: “Go, Anna!”
A new guest friend. Her first story is still to come.
MEET ERIC · A FRIEND OF CLANCY
Good digging feet. New friends to meet.
Eric lives on the land beside the coast. He uses his nose to find ants and termites, then digs them out with his strong claws and catches them with his sticky tongue.
Clancy taught him Oceanese. When Eric meets Patrick, Wally and Kevin, they discover that looking different doesn’t stop them enjoying some of the same things. They all love digging!
Read Clancy and Eric’s Way Out →
A free illustrated mini story. No sign-up needed.
Meet the new characters joining the world of Raffy’s Ocean Friends, created by James Shang. These friends are still taking shape, with new adventures to come.
The names, character traits and stories in Raffy’s Ocean Friends draw on my own encounters with marine life and countless hours spent watching it. Those experiences began in the 1970s, with the estuary wildlife at 3 Mile Creek and Cape Pallarenda, and continued later in South East Queensland. I gave names to the creatures I saw at the time. Those memories, and the things I noticed about how they moved and behaved, helped shape the fictional friends and adventures I’m sharing today.
© 2026 James Shang · Raffy’s Ocean Friends