An uplifting, thoughtful animal tale of family and belonging.
A crocodile is raised by birds, much to other animals’ confusion, in Black’s picture book.
“Deep in the Australia scrub,” a bird family finds a lone egg. They take it home and are “thrilled” when a crocodile hatches. The birds grow attached to Croccy. The other animals, including a koala and a platypus, are skeptical. They remark that Croccy is “nothing like you,” adding “when he grows up, he might EAT you!” However, the birds cherish the crocodile. As Croccy grows older and larger, he becomes “magnificent.” The other animals inquire, “Is thatwhy you keep him, because he’s beautiful?” The bird family agrees that while Croccy is beautiful, it isn’t why they keep him. Croccy’s other positive qualities are emphasized—he is strong and helpful. He opens cans using his teeth and transports critters across the river. Finally, the birds respond that Croccy’s strengths and abilities are not the reason they keep him. They explain, “He belongs with us, and that’s that.” Now the others understand that Croccy is a beloved member of the bird family. This heartwarming story features a fun cast of animal characters. Black emphasizes that there are all sorts of loving families, even ones that appear unconventional. Featuring bright colors and textures, Parton’s illustrations add liveliness and charm. Quirky scenes like when the birds watch television and Croccy eats donuts are delightful. Key words and phrases are often in multicolored letters.
An uplifting, thoughtful animal tale of family and belonging.Pub Date: Nov. 23, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64124-129-8
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Happy Fox Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies.
Pigeon finds something better to drive than some old bus.
This time it’s Santa delivering the fateful titular words, and with a “Ho. Ho. Whoa!” the badgering begins: “C’mon! Where’s your holiday spirit? It would be a Christmas MIRACLE! Don’t you want to be part of a Christmas miracle…?” Pigeon is determined: “I can do Santa stuff!” Like wrapping gifts (though the accompanying illustration shows a rather untidy present), delivering them (the image of Pigeon attempting to get an oversize sack down a chimney will have little ones giggling), and eating plenty of cookies. Alas, as Willems’ legion of young fans will gleefully predict, not even Pigeon’s by-now well-honed persuasive powers (“I CAN BE JOLLY!”) will budge the sleigh’s large and stinky reindeer guardian. “BAH. Also humbug.” In the typically minimalist art, the frustrated feathered one sports a floppily expressive green and red elf hat for this seasonal addition to the series—but then discards it at the end for, uh oh, a pair of bunny ears. What could Pigeon have in mind now? “Egg delivery, anyone?”
A stocking stuffer par excellence, just right for dishing up with milk and cookies. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Sept. 5, 2023
ISBN: 9781454952770
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Union Square Kids
Review Posted Online: Sept. 12, 2023
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
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