Crocodiles

Children's Literature - Marcie Flinchum Atkins

Exquisite photography appears throughout the books in this "Living Wild" series. The book opens with a sensory description of the swamp where the crocodile lives. A world map indicates where the thirteen different species of crocodiles live on the globe. The text is heavy and fully informative about all of the different aspects of crocodiles, but the text is broken up by photographs on every page and sidebars with little snippets of information that readers would find interesting. It answers the oft-asked question: What's the difference between crocodiles and alligators? This book, however, does not just address the factual science of crocodiles. It also addresses how crocodiles are portrayed in cultures all over the world. Crocodiles had symbolic meaning in Ancient Egypt, and the people of Madagascar believe crocodiles are sacred. Crocodiles portrayed as villains have appeared in various stories and films. The poem "How Doth the Little Crocodile" from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is featured, as is a folktale about crocodiles from Timor. Many people and organizations are currently working to protect crocodiles and their habitats. Even the late Steven Irwin, also known as "The Crocodile Hunter" is featured. A glossary defines all bold-faced words from the text. A bibliography and index are also included. This book would make an excellent reference book to feature in school and public libraries. Reviewer: Marcie Flinchum Atkins