Who Will Kiss the Crocodile?: A Snappy Twist on Sleeping Beauty

by Suzy Senior, Claire Powell (Illustrator)

Overview

In this hilarious retelling of Sleeping Beauty, an angry fairy casts a spell that turns baby Princess Liss into a crocodile who will fall into a deep sleep, only to be woken by a kiss. But who will kiss the crocodile and break the spell?

In this hilarious spin on the traditional fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, a certain fairy is not invited to the party for baby Princess Liss. So the angry fairy shows up at the party and casts a spell on the baby. The spell turns her into a crocodile and sends her into a deep sleep when she's 15, only to be woken by a kiss. But who would dare to kiss a crocodile? The talented team behind the popular book Octopants offers up a fun take on the traditional fairy tale with rhyming text and energetic illustrations.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781680102840
Publisher:	Tiger Tales.
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.06(w) x 11.38(h) x 0.41(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Suzy Senior lives and works at the top of a huge hill in Sheffield. She lives with her family, a small gang of squeaky pets, and quite a lot of books. She loves writing picture books, making things rhyme, and eating jaffa cakes – ideally all at the same time!

Life for Claire Powell began in a cupboard under the stairs. Not as punishment like Harry Potter—it's where she went to draw. Before becoming an illustrator, Claire cut her teeth designing for many big-hitting brands, including Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation. She also animated an award-winning short film, "The Scapegoat." Claire lives and works in London in a studio just bigger than a cupboard.

Editorial Reviews

A snappy, rhyming retelling of “Sleeping Beauty.”

Princess Liss’ parents throw a ball for her first birthday, but they’ve left someone off the guest list, with the classic fairy-tale result: An angry fairy, with green wings and a purple dress, arrives uninvited and places a curse on the princess. In 15 years, Liss will bump her knee and die—and as an added twist, she will look like a crocodile until then. Another fairy, wearing a top hat and with orange wings, swoops in to modify the curse so the princess can be woken with a kiss. But who will kiss a crocodile, even a sleeping one? Three princes—two light-skinned, one Black—fight their way through the thorns but run screaming from Liss’ sharp teeth. Neighbors call Clare and Katarina, of the Fix-It Crew, to tend to the castle’s hedges. This tough duo are the ones to save the day, and Liss and her family celebrate with another ball. While Liss remains a passive character, this is a lively retelling. Every page bursts with bright color, and the rhyme scheme is a delight to read aloud. Princess Liss is light-skinned, her parents appear to be an interracial couple, and other characters are diverse in skin tone. 

A fresh and fun fractured fairy tale. (Picture book. 4-8) —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-06-08
A snappy, rhyming retelling of “Sleeping Beauty.”

Princess Liss’ parents throw a ball for her first birthday, but they’ve left someone off the guest list, with the classic fairy-tale result: An angry fairy, with green wings and a purple dress, arrives uninvited and places a curse on the princess. In 15 years, Liss will bump her knee and die—and as an added twist, she will look like a crocodile until then. Another fairy, wearing a top hat and with orange wings, swoops in to modify the curse so the princess can be woken with a kiss. But who will kiss a crocodile, even a sleeping one? Three princes—two light-skinned, one Black—fight their way through the thorns but run screaming from Liss’ sharp teeth. Neighbors call Clare and Katarina, of the Fix-It Crew, to tend to the castle’s hedges. This tough duo are the ones to save the day, and Liss and her family celebrate with another ball. While Liss remains a passive character, this is a lively retelling. Every page bursts with bright color, and the rhyme scheme is a delight to read aloud. Princess Liss is light-skinned, her parents appear to be an interracial couple, and other characters are diverse in skin tone. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A fresh and fun fractured fairy tale. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews