Crocodiles are the Best Animals of All!

This narrative in rhyme is a satisfying read from start to finish. Illustration, text and typography work well together to draw the reader in and keep them captivated. There’s enough detail in the illustrations to engage and amuse us, not least the expressions on the faces of the animals as they watch, aghast, the audacity of crocodile boasting about how he can do everything they can, only better. It all starts with donkey speaking aloud as he sits contentedly on his deckchair enjoying a cooling drink on the beach:

‘…My ears may wiggle and my teeth may be wonky,/but nothing is better than being a donkey!’

Up comes crocodile and begs to differ, asserting arrogantly, that actually he is better and can do everything. Orang-utan challenges his claim: ‘You can’t swing through the trees!’ Seems he can; rather well. The rabbits, mountain goat and kangaroo challenge crocodile turn by turn, and he astounds them all by living up to his claim of being able to do whatever they can, only better by far. The story comes full circle when donkey speaks out at the end:

‘You’re good at many things, I can see,/but you cannot wiggle your ears like me!’

The animals fall about as crocodile then tries in vain to wiggle ears he doesn’t have! At which point donkey resumes his ‘hmm, as I was saying…’ position in his deckchair and reiterates his opening pronouncement. A satisfying finish to an enjoyable story.