The Enormous Crocodile (Chapter Book Edition) (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) [School & Library Binding]

Roald Dahl (Author), Quentin Blake (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2002 | Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The enormous crocodile devises secret plans and a few clever tricks to secure his lunch, only to have them foiled by his neighbors.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With his "secret plans and clever tricks," the Enormous Crocodile desires to lunch not with but on a nice, juicy child. His croc companion, the Notsobig One, is the first to try to talk him out of his scheme, claiming children are no good to eat. "'Tough and chewy!' cried the Enormous Crocodile. 'Nasty and bitter! What awful tommyrot you talk! They are juicy and yummy!'" One jungle critter after another--from Trunky the elephant to Muggle-Wump the monkey to the Roly-Poly Bird--tries to prevent the Enormous Crocodile from carrying out his dastardly deed, but on he waddles toward the village. Unfortunately for him, the animals have a few secret plans and clever tricks up their furry sleeves, too!

This new storybook format of a fabulous Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake classic is destined to delight a whole new generation of young readers. The first collaborative effort of this picture-perfect creative match, The Enormous Crocodile's uniquely Dahl-esque dialogue and laugh-out-loud illustrations marked the beginning of a beautiful partnership. Some of their other creations include The Magic Finger and The BFG. Dahl is a master at giving readers a delectably sweet taste of vengeance. (Ages 6 to 10) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

The author's most dazzling entertainment to date. (Publishers Weekly) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 46 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (January 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078570812X
• ISBN-13: 978-0785708124
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #311,829 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #57 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Alligators & Crocodiles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the most wickedly funny children's book, ever!, October 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Enormous Crocodile (Paperback)

Roald Dahl out-grimm's Grimms' with this tale of a horrid, hoggish brute of a crocodile who connives to eat small, juicy little children. My little one cringed, squealed and cajoled the villian with each new encounter and as he is thwarted in his "secret plans and clever tricks". This book has everything a child relishes: name-calling, suspense, jungle animals, children in peril and a thoroughly loathsome, yet undeniably silly, villian. Dahl has created a dialogue-driven story with vividly over-the-top characters, making this a wonderful read-aloud book! Abundantly illustrated by Quentin Blake's loopy pen-and-ink cartoons with a watercolor wash, this is a wickedly fun package that only gets better with each read and will please kids and adults alike. Beg, borrow, steal, or even BUY this book if it comes down to that!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Enormous Crocodile, June 9, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Enormous Crocodile (Paperback)

Did you know that a crocodile could be turned into a sausage? This book, "The Enormous Crocodile" is excellent because it showed many unusual disguises that the crocodile had. I think there was a lot of action and adventure like when the Enormous Crocodile wanted to disguise himself as an animal on the carrousel. The Enormous Crocodile was always trying to get closer to children to eat them. You will never guess who stepped in his way. I didn't realize just how brave some jungle animals really are. When you see the sun shinning extra brightly you know the crocodile sausage is still cooking. I learned that I will never get to close to a crocodile or I might be his dinner.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars fun book, but the ending falls short, November 22, 2001

By 

NotATameLion (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Enormous Crocodile (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed "The Enormous Crocodile." It is one heck of a tale. But the abrupt and rather too serious ending leaves me pondering the greatness that could have been.

The story follows the exploits of the tittle character as he sets off one morning to find something to eat. He has a hankering for children from the nearby village. He broadcasts his desire to the other creatures of the jungle as he passes them.

The only problem is that besides being greedy and ill-intentioned, the crocodile is also nasty to his fellow wild creatures. This comes back to haunt him.

The story is a masterpiece of dry humor. Its verbal pacing is darn near flawless. The illustrations are great. Several (especially of the Crocodile's disguises) made me laugh.

Outside of the ending, I highly recommend "The Enormous Crocodile."