Crocodile: Disappearing Dragon [Hardcover]

Jonathan London (Author), Paul Morin (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: 1 and up

Jonathan London and Paul Morin team up to offer a fascinating and sympathetic view of a dangerous—and endangered—species, the American crocodile.

Crocodile silently glides through a salty mangrove swamp. She searches for a place on the sandy bank, a place safe from predators. Digging, she scoops out a nest and lays forty eggs. Maybe five will survive to grow to adulthood, when they will face a new and more dangerous predator—humankind. Paul Morin’s dramatic oil paintings and Jonathan London’s powerful words capture the ferocity and the vulnerability of the American crocodile as she cares for her young. Endnotes provide even more intriguing facts about one of America’s most elusive endangered species. Now with its companion book—Panther: Shadow of the Swamp—Crocodile: Disappearing Dragon will transport readers to the beautiful, fragile Florida Everglades.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 1-3-To help convey the plight of the nearly extinct creature, this story opens and closes with an American crocodile hiding from a hunter. The body of the text describes the yearly cycle of the female, beginning with finding a mate. Eggs are laid, protected, and hatched under her watchful eye. Natural predators are introduced as the author subtly adds factual information ([of the 40 eggs] "Maybe five hatchlings will survive"; "tonight crocodile must settle for blue crabs, land crabs, and a crunchy turtle or two"). Morin's vibrant oil paintings consume three-quarters of each spread, with London's lyrical words on one side. An endnote describes the current status of the endangered species, with a call for readers to join the fight to help the animals survive. A wildlife-preservation message is effectively conveyed through this poetically written, attractively formatted story.

Cathie E. Bashaw, Somers Library, NY

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 6-8. This picture book combines basic information about the life cycle of the endangered American crocodile with a simple story that indicates why there are only 400 to 500 left in the Florida Everglades. The account begins with a female crocodile, stalked by humans, that mates and later that spring lays her eggs in the sandy bank. In midsummer, they hatch and she helps them into the water. One night, a light sweeps across the water; a man shoots at the crocodile, climbs from his boat, and wades into the water. When the crocodile thrashes her tail and snaps her jaws, the man flees. Morin's impressionist paintings, which portray the setting as mysterious and somewhat menacing, are best seen from a little distance. Light is beautifully rendered, color is sensitively handled, and the varied thickness and texture of the oil paint on canvas lend another dimension to the pictures. The last two pages carry a map of southern Florida and more information about the animals. A dramatic and visually dynamic introduction to the species. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1 edition (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564026345
• ISBN-13: 978-1564026347
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,679,790 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars stunning oil paintings, rhythmic text combine to take your breath away, October 12, 2005

By 

waldorf_curric - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Crocodile: Disappearing Dragon (Hardcover)

This book is amazing. I never thought twice about the life of a crocodile! Every page pulls you deeper into a sultry swamp, teeming with life. The illustrations are rich and deep, but it's the text that really makes this book something special. You are truly holding your breath as you turn each page, drawn into the magic and mystery of this amazing animal. I recommend this book to anyone wanting to share the natural world with a young child. Crocodile is intense, not scary, and beautifully done. On a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a strong 11.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book about Crocodiles, April 25, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Crocodile: Disappearing Dragon (Hardcover)

This is a non-fiction text about a Crocodile's life in Florida for a year. It provides more in depth background knowledge in the back of the book. The illustrations are beautiful. I highly recommend this book.