Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast

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.)

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