Crocodile Hungry

In Crocodile Hungry, readers meet a famished crocodile who, despite having a seemingly well-stocked fridge, cannot find anything good to eat. Leaving his forest home, the crocodile has an unsuccessful shop at a nearby grocery store, with "everyone screaming". Likewise, a visit to the community garden results in a droopy lettuce leaf, but with "everyone screaming" again. The crocodile’s tears of despair create a “nice-sized pond”, but he finds that the lingering flamingos are not as tasty as "summer sausage . . . bacon or bologna." The solution is, of course, to take out its cell phone and order pizza.

With its tongue-in-cheek humour (canned ham called "Oink", for instance), short action statements, and bright illustrations, this hilarious book is sure to appeal to young children of all ages. Along with the extreme hunger that the crocodile experiences, readers will relate to the notion of their having nothing suitable to eat despite a full fridge along with concept of the curative properties of pizza. The illustrations accurately depict all the crocodile's varied emotions, from hope to despair and from tearful worry to determination. Humans play a secondary role in the story but are nevertheless depicted with a variety of ethnicities, religious convictions, and abilities. Crocodile Hungry is a quick but satisfying read with a conclusion that most Canadians will appreciate.