Meet Earth's largest living reptile. Crocodile-like animals lived on Earth more than two hundred million years ago. They outlived the dinosaurs. Today their descendants are found on five continents. They belong to a special group of reptiles called crocodilians. These animals are strange and wonderful indeed. For example, ferocious-looking mother alligators treat their hatchlings with tender care. Crocodilians may seem awkward on land, but they can move quickly. Usually they wait and watch from the water, then ambush their prey. From baby alligators that call to "Mom" from inside their eggs to grown alligators and crocodiles that bellow and roar, Laurence Pringle takes readers into the world of nature's largest - and noisiest - living reptiles. Bold, realistic illustrations by Meryl Henderson show every crocodilian species as well as details of their bodies and fascinating behavior.
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From School Library Journal
Grade 2–5—From the gentle care a mother alligator gives her hatchlings to their important role in food chains, crocodilians are treated with respect in this introductory look at the world's largest reptiles. Written in a conversational style without chapters or headings, the book provides brief descriptions of 21 species along with habitat information and drawn-to-scale illustrations. The text also discusses common characteristics of crocodilians, how to differentiate between a crocodile and an alligator, hunting and eating habits, and their movement on land and in the water. Information on nesting patterns, vocalizations, and the important role crocodilians had in several ancient civilizations is also included. There is one minor error: the text says that "the next six pages show 14 species," but they actually show 21. The concluding pages look at the dangers and challenges these animals face in the modern world and provide conservation suggestions, the names of related groups, and an excellent Web site. Finely detailed, realistic watercolors fill nearly every page, and labeled insets highlight facts from the text. Children will appreciate this book's thorough treatment, but the lack of an index may hamper its use for research. Pair it with a title such as Elaine Landau's Alligators and Crocodiles (Enslow, 2007) for those who prefer photographs.—Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Pringle adds to his series of Strange and Wonderful animal introductions this survey of our planet’s largest living reptiles. Noting that they preceded, lived with, and survived the dinosaurs, he briefly describes their habitats and nesting behavior, and explains their common anatomical features and distinguishing characteristics (can’t tell the difference between an American alligator and a crocodile? If only the top row of teeth are visible, mouth closed, it’s an alligator). Henderson presents a gallery of full-body portraits of 21 crocodilian species, as well as a series of close-ups. These illustrations are drawn and colored in such clear, precise detail that young students may prefer them to the photographs in such otherwise similar titles as Phyllis Jean Perry’s Crocodilians (1997) or Seymour Simon’s Crocodiles and Alligators (1999). Libraries with space for just one title on the topic (a sad thought) should probably stick with Sandra Markle’s Crocodiles (2004), but this is an above-average addition for those in need of more books on the subject. Grades 2-4. --John Peters
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review from www.firrkids.com,
This review is from: Alligators and Crocodiles!: Strange and Wonderful (Hardcover)
Do you know the difference between alligators and crocodiles? Nor did I, until this book came along. Now I know that a crocodile's head is more narrow and its snout is more pointed that an alligator's. When crocodiles close their mouths, both upper and lower teeth are visible. In contrast, only the upper teeth show on an alligator's tightly closed mouth. And that's not all I learned ...
Crocodilians are a reptile group made up of crocodiles, alligators, caimans and gharials. The members of this group are alike in that they all have short legs, clawed feet, powerful tails and tough skin for protection. This book provides wonderful drawings and a short summary of twenty-one different crocodilians, so that the readers may note and compare the variations in size and shape. Our foray into the reptile world begins with the behavior demonstrated by baby alligators. It is fascinating that the babies can communicate with their mother and mimic each other, even while inside their shells. Mother crocodilians help the babies hatch and then guard over them, providing loving care until they can become fierce crocodilians of their own right. All crocodilians also have powerful jaw muscles, and a valve at the back of their mouth that closes underwater. This renders them airtight and able to remain underwater for more than an hour. This feature is particularly useful for feeding, as their practice is to drag their prey underwater to drown them. This is just a an amazing source of information on these massive reptiles. Well organized information is teamed with full color illustrations, that make this a very attractive number. The only down side is it is just a little bit embarrassing for adults who discover how much they didn't know about these animals.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended for public library young adult nonfiction shelves,
By Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Alligators and Crocodiles!: Strange and Wonderful (Hardcover)
Alligators and Crocodiles! Strange and Wonderful is an amazing nonfiction children's book packed cover to cover with information about alligators and crocodiles - ancient reptiles that once preyed upon, and have now outlived the dinosaurs. From how baby alligators call to their mother from inside their eggs, to fierce full-grown crocodiles known to ambush swimmers or attack small boats, Alligators and Crocodiles! Strange and Wonderful reveals astonishing facts about each stage of these creatures' lives. Realistic color illustrations add the perfect touch to this excellent giftbook for young adult reptile lovers. Highly recommended for public library young adult nonfiction shelves as well.
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