What Does the Crocodile Say?

This book, in English translation, is published by the small, independent publishing house, Book Island, a company specializing in children’s books, based in Bristol. Older Nursery children will just love it as well as school age children, and will be swept along with the emotions of the one small crocodile in the title. From the dringg dringg of the alarm clock, through breakfast, munch,  the little Croc is being prepared for nursery school. Mother and young croc sit in the car (vroom vroom), both looking glum.  Little croc gets more and more clingy as separation from Mum becomes nearer and nearer, even when greeted cheerily by Elephant teacher, ‘Peekaboo!’ Lots of reader anticipation is called for as parent croc and child enter the room full of different creatures, all engrossed happily in play. ‘WWWWAAH’ screams young croc, as Mum prepares to leave, one large tear slipping down Mum’s cheek. Elephant and story-time come to the rescue. ‘The book goes once upon a time….,’ reassuring and diverting little croc and drawing in all the other creatures to listen. Mum returns at pick-up time, and what does youngster say? ‘Mwah Mwah Mwah!’ Mother still has a tear to shed. The book closes with cheery goodbyes, and ‘See you tomorrow!’  It is cleverly told in a repeated format of object and its sound, e.g. The door goes wumpth. The text is deceptively simple and the author/illustrator gives lots of opportunities for readers to join in all the sounds, and to talk more about the story elaborated in her splendid pictures. Each object/croc is outlined in soft black crayon, and then carefully coloured in, all the pencil strokes clearly showing. The text, entirely in upper case letters, will soon be learnt by small children, as they read the pictures and provide the text themselves on further reads. Lots of fun.