Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast

by Sophie Gilmore

Overview

Crocodiles come from far and wide to seek Little Doctor’s care. She treats each one with skill and kindness—even the toughest crocs with thick skins and large, powerful jaws. Little Doctor marvels at these fearless beasts, listening to their stories, while she diagnoses and cures what ails them. But when she meets Big Mean, the largest crocodile in the land with jaws clamped tightly shut, Little Doctor can’t figure out what’s wrong. And she might be just a little bit afraid.



When one creative idea lands Little Doctor right inside Big Mean’s tremendous jaws, she is sure she’ll be munched or crunched—until she sees that Big Mean isn’t so horrible, after all. As it turns out, the crocodile is only protecting her hatchlings, all tangled in plastic, inside her mouth.



Watercolor illustrations create a richly imagined world in this awe-inspiring story about how even little kids can be fearless, and even big, mean creatures sometimes need help.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771473446
Publisher:	OWLKIDS BOOKS
Publication date:	03/15/2019
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.70(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

SOPHIE GILMORE is an author and illustrator who, until recently, was based in London, but can now be found in Pisa, Italy. She studied illustration at Edinburgh College of Art and works with watercolor, gouache and pen, though a little coloring pencil and the occasional monochromatic linocuts find their way in. Much of her work stems from the curiousness of human nature and the wordless magic in a friendship between children and animals.

Editorial Reviews

With its softly detailed, virtuoso art and a perfectly wrought story full of heart and respect for the imaginative rules of children's play, this debut shines.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

★ 12/17/2018

Little Doctor is a girl with rosy cheeks, brown hair, and a white lab coat, and her clinic’s population is made up of crocodiles. She removes their splinters and frees them from snares, and in return they entertain her with legends of “terrible danger, dizzying escapes, and acts of great mischief.” With delicate lines, debut author Gilmore imagines Little Doctor’s tidy working space and the different ways she cares for the reptiles, who are portrayed both sympathetically and without sentiment. One day, Big Mean appears at Little Doctor’s clinic, fierce and massive, her jaw clamped shut. The girl does her best to diagnose the trouble, but it takes some doing—and a moment of terror—before her treatment wins praise from Big Mean herself. Gilmore’s breezy tone keeps scariness at bay (“But moments passed, and she was not munched nor crunched”), and her illustrations are at once dreamy and believable. The conceit of a primary school–aged child who is already a seasoned medical professional provides charm from the outset, and Little Doctor’s bravery comes from wisdom and kindness. Another quiet lesson concerns the threat that humans pose to wild animals. Ages 5–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"An enthralling demonstration of kindness in action, helmed by a confident, brown-skinned girl in a doctor’s coat."

STARRED REVIEW Booklist

"The story seems so simple, and yet is a mile deep. It is about persistence, compassion, and respect."

Sally's Bookshelf

"Children will be able to read and relate and enjoy this story."

Picture Book Builders

"With its softly detailed, virtuoso art and a perfectly wrought story full of heart and respect for the imaginative rules of children’s play, this debut shines."

The New York Times

"An auspicious picture book debut!"

Sal's Fiction Addiction

"This is a dreamy story, wrapped in a gorgeous package, with an important environmentalist reminder."

The Horn Book

"It would be a welcome addition to personal, public and school library collections."

Canadian Review of Materials

"An unexpected (and welcome) surprise, and a soon-to-be classic."

The Adventures of Cecelia Bedelia

"With its softly detailed, virtuoso art and a perfectly wrought story full of heart and respect for the imaginative rules of children’s play, this debut shines."

The New York Times

06/14/2019

K-Gr 2-Why is a child living alone in the jungle? How does that child understand the language of crocodiles and what they need for healing? These questions remain unknown, but readers willing to accept the mysterious premise enter a thoughtfully unique story. Little Doctor, as the crocodiles call the child, lovingly cares for the creatures who visit her cabin clinic. In return, the crocs tell her thrilling stories full of danger, escapes, and mischief. One day, however, a beast arrives at Little Doctor's door who is bigger and more frightening than any she has seen before. The child does not know how to help Big Mean, menacingly silent and with no visible injuries. The illustrations and book design skillfully further the action of the story. In a climactic scene, Big Mean's jaws open so wide they go from edge to edge of a spread. VERDICT Atmospheric and quietly humorous, the story shows influences as varied as Tarzan and Where the Wild Things Are, and will appeal to fans of adventure and legends.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

School Library Journal