Crocodile: Disappearing Dragon
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, NYCopyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.