Akimbo and the Crocodile Man

Usually when I read to my 6-, 4-, and 3-year-olds, I find myself saying "be quiet" over and over again. But my threesome has been captivated as I read Akimbo to them over the past several days. It has a good mixture of fantasy (with a young boy hot-wiring a truck) and reality (John's crocodile bites) without being too graphic. I did not feel the need to censor myself as I was reading. We like the pictures, too. My son (the 6-year old) wants us to read Akimbo and the Lions next.

While this is actually a children's book I enjoyed it nevertheless because I am facinated with African folklore and anything to do with African culture and the beautiful animals.

Although this book is described as being for the 4-8 year-old group, it seemed to me more like a 7-9 year-old book that might well appeal more to boys than to girls (based on having had two of each in our family) due to some of the gross aspects. I was attracted to the book by realizing that the various animal-related stories that Alexander McCall Smith includes in his No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books were among my favorite parts of those books. It occurred to me that the Akimbo books might have such stories in them. Well, not quite . . . but the series is full of Akimbo learning about wild animals, the threats to animals from people, and deals with the problems through Akimbo's brave deeds. Children like to see themselves playing important roles in the world, and Akimbo and the Crocodile Man is very good for appealing to that desire. Akimbo's father works as a ranger at a game preserve in Africa where he is visited by a scientist studying crocodiles. Akimbo is allowed to go on the trek and plays an important role when the scientist is injured. The book is nicely illustrated which adds to the realism of the story.

In this Akimbo book, Smith brings us an Akimbo wizened by age and adventure. Here Akimbo wishes to accompany the crocodile man who is tagging baby crocodiles in order to study survival rate in that part of the jungle. Most baby crocodiles become meals for other larger animals, and there was an interest to observe the number that survived to adulthood. On the journey, the Crocodile Man, John, actually does get attacked by a crocodile and his leg is hurt. Akimbo has to figure out a way to get his friend to hospital soon or he will bleed to death. This is where Akimbo applies his innovative talent. Perhaps Smith goes a bit further than can be expected, but Akimbo is an extraordinary boy. As always, Akimbo works for that which is right in human society. It is right to help a friend if they are hurt. It may even be a cause to break rules especially if it will save a life and not endanger any other life. This is the crux of Smith's message. Akimbo follows his instincts about what is right and wrong and uses his imagination and creativity and finds the needed solutions to his dilemmas. The book is recommended highly for children age 5 through 10. It can easily by read to younger children by parents as well. The book is a wonderful story of another adventure in the life of Akimbo in the African forest.