Crocodaddy [Hardcover]

Kim Norman (Author), David Walker (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1—A little boy and his father frolic in a pond on a lazy summer day. The child is "captain of the Crocodaddy hunt." He rides the creature, lures it with a sandwich, and splashes and giggles, but he doesn't succeed in taming the wild beast until he tickles its knees. The final spread shows the father restored to his human form, while the boy, "a little chip off the lazy old Croc," pretends to be the crocodile. Walker's vibrant colors and expressive characters bounce along with the percussive rhyming text, lending visual power to what could have been a one-note premise. This celebration of imaginative play holds appeal for children.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD
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About the Author

Kim Norman has over 25 years' experience as a singer, dancer, storyteller and comedic actress. She spends several weeks each summer teaching children how to develop their dramatic skills and has also written poems and other picture books. David Walker worked for Hallmark Cards as an art director. He now does freelance illustration and has illustrated many books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Sterling (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402744609
• ISBN-13: 978-1402744600
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 10.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #498,204 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Father Son Story, July 12, 2009

By 

Julie Peterson "Booking Mama" (Central PA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Crocodaddy (Hardcover)

CROCODADDY by Kim Norman and illustrated by David Walker is just a precious little book for the toddler or preschooler in your life. When I first showed this book to my four year old son, he wanted me to read it to him right away because he liked the cover and the title. Like most little guys, he adores anything animal related and the thought of a little boy riding a crocodile was just too exciting.

The basic idea of this book is that a little boy and his daddy go to the lake together, and the boy pretends that his daddy is a crocodaddy. He then sets off on a hunt to capture the elusive crocodaddy. I love how the story encourages kids to use their imaginations while they play; and, I really liked the message that little boys and their fathers have special relationships. (That's not to say that my son and I don't have a bond, but I can't really see me pretending to be a crocodile.)

I had a great time reading this book to my son. The text is rhyming and very catchy, and there were only a few lines of words on each page. Lots of pictures and few words make this book ideal for preschoolers and perfect for reading out loud. While I enjoyed the story, I really appreciated the illustrations. The pictures were bright and colorful with lots to look at; and I loved the facial expressions on the boy.

When I asked my son what was his favorite part of this book, he immediately replied (with a huge grin) "Everything!" I tried to get some specifics, and he said he liked when the boy and his daddy were together at the end. He might say that was the best part for him, but I heard quite a few giggles when the boy fell in the water and when he fed the crocodaddy a sandwich. We've read this book a few times already, and it always manages to keep his attention.

I definitely recommend this adorable picture book for toddlers and preschoolers. I'm pretty sure that they will enjoy it as much as my son has, and I think parents will like reading it too!

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for Father's Day, March 18, 2010

By 

Joe Kulka "Joe Kulka" (Quakertown, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crocodaddy (Hardcover)

Or any other day for that matter. Finding a picturebook geared just for Dads is hard to do, let alone a great one like this. This book really captures that magical time when your kids are young enough to really let their imaginations take hold. The poetry is lively and keeps the story moving along. The illustrations are a great match. This would be a perfect choice for any Dad to get on Father's Day from their young son or daughter...and then hit the pool and transform into a Crocodaddy themselves!

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute Story, July 20, 2009

By 

A. Benson "book nerd" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crocodaddy (Hardcover)

We received this book just before Father's Day. My two-year-old loves it. The rhymes are fun, and the illustrations are very cute and clever.