Technically, this is a board book. However, its subtle humor will appeal to older kids and it's formatted as a large board book which can easily pass for a picture book.
The story features Timmers' art, all of the characters having large, bulbous eyes and sly grins. The first spread shows the titular crocodile walking across a sandy landscape, approached by a panicky mouse who says "Help, kind Crocodile!" Turn the page and the mouse zooms up onto Crocodile's back, as we see it is being chased by a snake. On the next page, Crocodile bares her teeth in a fierce "GRRRR!" and the snake takes off... but on the next page a warthog begs for safety, then a gazelle, and so on. This continues until Crocodile is crushed flat by the weight of all the animals stacked on top of her, and the animals find their courage. "Nothing can scare us ever again!" they cheerfully proclaim. But Crocodile isn't feeling so kind anymore...
The story ends with a new organization of stacked animals and a cheeky grin from Crocodile. The simple art and repetitive dialogue will click with toddlers, but it will take an older audience to truly appreciate the mischievous Crocodile turning the tables at the end of the story and the subtle humor in Timmers' animals' faces. The book has thin board pages and is laid out in a large rectangle, 8.5" x 9.75" so it will work as a small-format picture book. The price, $10 with discount, is closer to a picture book as well.
Verdict: Add this to your board book or picture book collection and be sure to bring it out frequently for storytime with preschoolers and school-agers alike. Recommended.
ISBN: 9781776574704; Published March 2023 by Gecko; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library
No comments:
Post a Comment