Review by Vanessa Bedford Gill
Tundra Books, 2022
40 pages, Hardcover, $21.99 CAD, 9780735268159
Picture Book, Ages 2-5
Fiction
The Bell goes ding-dong.
Grandma says “Sweet Pea!”
Grandpa goes Muah! Muah!
The Pinwheel goes Whir.
Lewis Carroll may have asked Alice to wonder: “How doth the Little Crocodile…?” but readers don’t need to ponder that poem any longer, because Eva Montanari’s little crocodile shares everything he experiences and hears as he goes about his daily life.
What Does Little Crocodile say at the Park? is the second book in Eva Montanari’s four-part series about the loveable reptile. Simplistic plot aside, these books would be appealing to toddlers and parents who select quick reads. All four books rely on a little crocodile hearing his way through typical toddler activities, whether it be playing at the park or hanging out at the beach. This sensory book for children allows them to learn and practice everyday sounds.
Little crocodile is just like any toddler on a trip to the park. He stares at pigeons and blows too many dandelion seeds. Everything is going swimmingly until little crocodile notices that the roundabout is full and he has a melt-down: “WWWWAAH. WWWWAAH.” He definitely sheds a whole lot of crocodile tears, but within the turn of the page, he is happy to join in on the playground fun. After making friends with a menagerie of animals, the little crocodile eventually wears himself out and his grandparents return home with a lethargic bundle in the stroller. The author is able to capture the child-like wonder in everyday experiences, even if the activity is one that happens all the time and might seem routine.
While a fun read, the plot lacks some snap, and some sounds are not attributed accurately, such as, “The flower goes sniff.” The picture book has sparse text at only 93 words. Indeed, you are able to read this book in under a minute, which might be the perfect length to distract a young child or a great choice for a storytime geared to toddlers with short attention spans.
Montanari, an Italian author and artist, has a distinct drawing style that is soft, textured and manages to combine an innocent style with plenty of detail, thanks to the strong black contours in her work. The soft chalk and pencil drawings capture a whimsical style of illustration that supplements the simple text.
With beautiful imagery and a quick pace, this book would make a popular interactive read-aloud, as young ones can mimic the sounds that little crocodile hears.
Vanessa Bedford Gill is a Librarian and pursuing her MA in Children’s Literature at UBC. She enjoys creative writing, travelling, and drinking copious amounts of tea while reading picture books to her four children, even though they tell her that they are far too old for this pastime!
YOUNG ADULTING 