I, Crocodile

I am an Elementary School library teacher and book lover. I teach library and computer skills to little kids. "I Crocodile" ranks with the greatest of the great. I'm ordering 2 copies. One is for a 3rd grader as a reward for reading books during our Book-A-Thon. The other one is a gift for my brother, a poet, who has a ph.D. in creative writing and literature. This is a book which easily will bring chortles and laughs from both.

My 3-year-old loved this book and so did I. The illustrations are beautiful, and I love the fact that the story uses advanced vocabulary words you never see in a children's book, like 'delectable' and 'fetid.' Such a refreshing change of pace from simplistic kids' stories. I disagree with the reviewer who said the ending is inappropriate for children. I explained to my son that although it might be shocking that the crocodile ate a person, he stated earlier in the book that he refrained from eating people because people respected his ancestors. This is what happens when you don't respect nature, I explained. He thought that was a perfectly reasonable consequence! I highly recommend this book if you want a change of pace from typical children's books.

This is one of the all-time great children's stories. Seriously. As for the artwork, it actually may surpass Marcellino's previous Caldecott-honored standards. Is "I, Crocodile" a page turner? Is chocolate pudding a kid magnet? The story's hilarious rogue crocodile is more memorable than all the latest you-know-which cartoon characters put together. The plot ranges cinematically from the banks of the Nile to the banks of the Paris sewers... with a ton of razzle-dazzle in between. Appearing in an ingenious supporting role is pudgy, comically self-important Napoleon, himself. In addition to the crocodile's various meals, Marcellino offers food for thought, yet never with a heavy hand and always with a perfect-pitch instinct for sheer entertainment. Getting "I, Crocodile" for your kids to enjoy is the perfect excuse to get it for your own enjoyment. It's easily the children's book of the year. And... it's Y2K-compliant.

Incoming rave review.Most children's classics have either a terrific story, or a terrific main character, or terrific illustrations. I, Crocodile has all three.The story is, as they say, high-concept. (Disney and Dreamworks ought to consider it for animation.) See, the dreamy life of this crocodile on the banks of the Nile is rudely interrupted by Napoleon, who....well, you have to read the book. It has huge entertainment value for kids, and wit that will motivate an adult to read it aloud enthusiastically even on the thirty-seventh time around. (There will be a thirty-seventh time.)As for the beast himself, he's the greatest crocodile since Lewis Carroll's. Even bigger. (Of his own reptile, Carroll wrote, "How doth the little crocodile...." Marcellino's has a heartier appetite.)The illustrations are spectacular. They're rich with surprise, color, and beauty. They reach the level of art without a trace of self-consciousness.I, Crocodile is full of life. It whisks you along so absorbingly, you're hardly conscious of turning the pages. You may already know that Fred Marcellino has, for years, been one of the preeminent children's illustrators. He's now, in a single stroke, one of the preeminent children's authors as well.So:If there's a child in your life, I, Crocodile is a must-have book. If there's no child in your life, you might want to order it anyway. The simulated crocodile-skin cover, alone, is worth the price of admission.

The story is wonderful - a first in story writing forMarcellino! The art is up to his usual unforgettable standards. I,Crocidile is a must have for all little and big people - it is a great book to read and share.