Alligator Tails and Crocodile Cakes

Children's Literature

Two chapters, pastel watercolor illustrations and easy reader format invite new readers into this "I Am Reading" series. In the first chapter, Alligator is the fool who tries to hide, but his tail gives him away to Crocodile every time until Alligator hides behind his friend. When they bake a cake, the confident Crocodile gives all of the directions to the clumsy Alligator, who drops flour, breaks eggs and eats most of the raisins. The cake bakes while they clean up. This is no Frog and Toad but just humorous enough that a new reader will enjoy reading this a few times. The vocabulary is a little more challenging than Lobel uses in his famous friendly stories, but won't defeat a first or second grader. 2000 (orig. 1996), Kingfisher, $3.95. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Susan Hepler