by Martin Jenkins (Author) Satoshi Kitamura (Illustrator)
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Wry narration from Jenkins (The Squirrels' Busy Year) and dreamy illustrations by Kitamura (My Hand) elevate what could be a pedestrian animal exploration. Crocodiles are scary, Jenkins admits up front ("They've got an awful lot of... teeth"), but rather than reveling in blood and guts, he treats the way they capture their prey with charming British understatement: "Let's just say there's a lot of twirling and thrashing, and then things go a bit quiet." He devotes more attention to a tender account of crocodile maternal care: "Then--very carefully--she picks up the newly hatched babies in her enormous jaws and drops them into the water nearby." Kitamura uses a documentary style different from his usual jaunty artwork: layers of gray wash, soft colors, and dynamic strokes emphasize the croc's massive bulk, its glittery golden eyes, and its mouthful of teeth. A graduated sapphire and rose wash conveys the limpid beauty of sea and sky, and a simple index includes instructions for using indexes. It's not just a good crocodile reference; it's a good introduction to reference books. Ages 5-8. (Mar.)
Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.PreS-Gr 2--British conservation biologist Jenkins (Fabulous Frogs; Can We Save the Tiger?) teams up with Japanese illustrator Kitamura for a factual, funny, and frightening study of the lifespan of one of the world's most fearsome creatures. As Kitamura's grand and formidable crocodile moves from the title page to the first spread with jaws open wide, Jenkins's playful writing alleviates how frightening this subject can be: "If there's one thing you should know about crocodiles, it's that they're really scary--or at least the big ones are. They've got an awful lot of...teeth." Focusing on crocodiles' hunting and nesting patterns, the spare text is packed with information. When it is time for the crocodile to eat, the most gruesome parts are left off the page, but both text, rendered in different sizes, and illustrations give a sense of momentum and movement. This dramatic read-aloud contains occasional well-placed, offset crocodile facts, but stopping to read them doesn't disrupt the pacing. Kitamura's pen, watercolor, and mixed-media illustrations capture the animal's natural smile, adding personality, and the use of shadow and line adds tension as the animals sneak up on their prey. Back matter offers additional facts, including the difference between an alligator and a crocodile. VERDICT An engaging and enlightening classroom read-aloud, and a first purchase for libraries.--Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR
Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.