The Crocodile Who Didn't like Water

by Gemma Merino

Overview

Meet a most unusual crocodile who doesn't quite fit in!

Everybody knows that crocodiles love water, but this little crocodile is different—he doesn't like it at all! He tries to his best to change, but when attempt at swimming causes a shiver then a sneeze—could it be that this little crocodile isn't a crocodile at all? A hilarious and uplifting story about being yourself from a talented debut author-illustrator!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780735841635
Publisher:	NorthSouth Books
Publication date:	04/05/2014
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	181,447
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Gemma Merino was born in Spain. She children's illustration at Cambridge School of Art in England and won the prestigious Macmillan Prize for Children's Illustration in 2011 while completing her MA. She currently lives in London. This is her debut pi

Interviews

Gemma Merino was born in Spain. She children's illustration at Cambridge School of Art in England and won the prestigious Macmillan Prize for Children's Illustration in 2011 while completing her MA. She currently lives in London. This is her debut picture book.

Editorial Reviews

03/03/2014
What begins as an ordinary story of a young hero not fitting in with his peers takes an unexpected and rewarding detour in this debut from London-based author-illustrator Merino. The unnamed crocodile of the title hates being left out when his brothers and sisters swim, dive, and play games in the water, but he hates the water even more. Merino bypasses the obvious trajectory the story could take: while her hero gamely gives the water a chance, swimming with a red flotation ring and attempting a dive in an eight-panel spread (“One, twooo, two and a half, THREEEEE!”), these efforts don’t result in instant conversion. Instead, readers discover that his “problem” isn’t attitude but biology—there’s a good reason this “crocodile” came from a white egg, while his siblings emerged from blue ones. Merino’s renderings, using monotype prints and other media, give her hero tons of personality, from his expressive eyes and scraggly teeth to his spindly limbs and tiny wings—wait, wings? This isn’t a book to embolden timid swimmers; rather, it celebrates recognizing one’s strengths over forcing oneself to fit the mold. Ages 4–8. (May)

Publishers Weekly

"What begins as an ordinary story of a young hero not fitting in with his peers takes an unexpected and rewarding detour in this debut from London-based author-illustrator Merino...[this book] celebrates recognizing one’s strengths over forcing oneself to fit the mold."- Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

05/01/2014
K-Gr 2—A little crocodile just can't get too enthused about the water, unlike his siblings, who splash and play in it with abandon. The little guy even uses his tooth fairy money to buy a swim ring. Alas, it is not a helpful solution. Just when he is at his lowest, he feels a sneeze coming on. Lo and behold, out shoots a sizable flame, hilariously setting a diving board on fire. He's actually a dragon! On the following pages, he uses his newly discovered talents to treat his brothers and sisters to a ride in a hot-air balloon and eventually on his winged back. Merino hits it out of the park with delightful artwork that will immediately endear the little dragon to readers and have them giggling cover to cover. She writes with a light, clear hand, letting the illustrations deliver the humor. Readers should look closely for neat little details, adding even more charm to this sweet, funny book about celebrating differences.—Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR

School Library Journal