PROFESSIONAL CROCODILE by Giovanna Zoboli & Mariachiara Di Giorgio

Professional Crocodile is a wonderfully wordless picture book that was first published in Italy. I decided to write about it today because it feels so full to me of character and story that I don’t notice that there are no words.

Mr. Crocodile wakes up and begins his day. He lives in a world beautifully full of quirky people and exotic animals. Mariachiara’s whimsical watercolors are bursting with details and funny asides.

But where is Crocodile going? He’s going to work. And with varying sized panels we begin to recognize that this must be his routine.

He waves to shopkeepers and seems to mindlessly go about his business. And we keep wondering…

hmmmm… what is his job?

I’m not going to tell you. Because the fun of the book is the unfolding mystery.

I really enjoyed this beautiful book. From the long skinny (alligator proportioned) format to the heavy matte paper. The illustrations are truly endearing.

Jennifer Black Reinhardt

Jennifer is the illustrator and author of several acclaimed picture books. Most recently is Always by My Side, 'A Stuffie Story', which she wrote and illustrated. She also is both the author and illustrator of Playing Possum, and Blue Ethel. Jennifer illustrated Gondra’s Treasure, written by Newbery award winner Linda Sue Park. As well as, Sometimes You Fly, by Newbery medalist, Katherine Applegate. She illustrated Yaks Yak, Animal Word Pairs by Linda Sue Park, The Inventor's Secret, What Thomas Edison Told Henry Ford, by Suzanne Slade, Rabbi Benjamin's Buttons, by Alice B. McGinty, and The Adventures of a South Pole Pig, by Chris Kurtz.

9 Comments:

  1. Carole Calladine

    Well now you have me hooked. What’s his job? I’ll have to find this book. Thanks for sharing. Love the character depicted.

  2. This was my staff pick shortly after it released! Love this book!

  3. Ha! Who doesn’t love a crocodile in clothes?

  4. Hmmm, he looks like a private I. Must check this out.

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