Bill and Pete

My mother read this book to me as a child and I loved it. It was always so exciting and funny to me, especially the picture of Bill popping out of the bad guy's bathtub. Even now it makes me laugh! I also used to take this book with me when I babysat and would read it to kids before bed. I never met a kid who didn't like Bill and Pete. It's the perfect mix of adventure and wit, and a great tale of friendship. Will it raise your child's IQ by a huge margin? Probably not. Is that what bedtime stories are for? Not really. Will they remember this book twenty years (and beyond) later with fond memories, and then read it to their own children? Absolutely.

Bill and Pete is an imaginative, somewhat quirky tale of two true friends. This book describes friendship in how it should be, that no matter how different two people are, sometimes the opposites make the best friends. The idea that a crocodile (Bill) and his toothbrush (Pete), became best friends is a little bit odd, but it exercises the imaginations of the children reading it. The illustrations, though simple, get the point across perfectly. My favorite character was Bill, allthough I also liked Mama. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This is my five year-old daughter's favorite book. It's the right mix of silliness (a bird for a toothbrush?!) and adventure. We love it.

William Everett Crocodile is having trouble learning to spell his name at school, until his best friend (and toothbrush!) Pete rechristens him "Bill". Exotic locations and a warm humerous story make this book and it's sequel, "Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile" two of our favorite preschool picture books. Unfortunately, the third book, "Bill and Pete to the Rescue" is a bit rambling and not in the same class.

De Paulo's humor is so dry, yet so innocent, that kids and adults will laugh together. This is one our kids outgrew long before we tired of it.