Pedro and George

April 27, 2015
French author-illustrator Perret's divertissement contains a bouquet of comedic moments. Pedro Crocodile greets his cousin George, who's having a crisis: "I'm fed up with everyone calling me a crocodile. I am an alligator!" he complains. The two sneak into a school to see whether elementary-school children are to blame, and whether they might be edible, as well. "Silence, Josephine, concentrate!" says teacher Mrs. Muiche. "But, miss, there is a crocodile biting my foot!" After defeat at the hands of Josephine, whose judo belt is "yellow-orangey," the reptiles' visit is celebrated with Crocodile and Alligator Week ("They had several wonderful days full of green crepe paper"). Perret (The Big Bad Wolf and Me) draws Pedro and George as tubby, slow-moving couch potatoesâtheir lime bodies and the children's pink faces are the only spots of color in the wiry line drawingsâand she has great fun spoofing customs like weekly dictation, an institution in French schools. Pedro and George seem like a pair who could have an endless series of adventures; a sequel would be welcome. Ages 4â8.

April 15, 2015
Cousins Pedro and George, a crocodile and an alligator, try to correct the record on their differences in this French import. Pedro is methodical. George is emotional. He's fed up with being called a crocodile. Pedro suggests a trip to the city to correct the foolish children who perpetuate the confusion. They pack a bag, including a comb ("of no use, of course"), and so begins a bizarre tale of discovery, all depicted in detail-packed black-and-white line drawings. The only spots of color highlight the featured creatures: green for reptiles, beige for humans. Along the way, the cousins decide that eating the children will teach them a lesson, and they try to implement their plan in Mrs. Muiche's classroom. George bites little Josephine's foot, but "pif paf bam," she puts him in a judo hold for a teachable moment. Star pupil Theodore explains that George is an alligator; the crocodile is identified by his fourth lower tooth. Although readers will take a moment to study the cartoons for the differentiation, they mostly (unlike the dutiful students) will be giggling uncontrollably. The droll storytelling and absurd action roll along to the conclusion: the reptiles go home and receive thank-you letters from Josephine for teaching them the difference between a crocodile and an...well, perhaps that is another story! A wholly original romp told with deliciously Gallic flair in an uncredited translation. (Picture book. 5-8)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Pedro is a crocodile and his cousin George is an alligator. Or is it the other way around? This book, a French import, is not pedantic, but rather a humorous adventure. Tired of being called the wrong names, they blame the formless entity called "the children on the other end of the world" and forge a journey to rectify the situation and settle the score. Naturally, this will bring a stream of objections from an audience of young readers! Pedro and George's string of off-the-cuff comments provide a backdrop of humor as they traverse the jungle and arrive at school. The visit renders young whippersnapper Josephine, a judo master, and Mrs. Muiche useless-her hair standing on end is depicted in memorable straight, parallel, energetic but understated lines. The drawings are fresh and economic in tone and line, packed with myriad little details for children to scour and devour and created devoid of computer enhancement, with just a black felt tip pen and only two tones of colored ink: pinkish flesh-tone and a brightish pea green. Juxtapositions such as "Dictation" written on the blackboard side-by-side with a sign saying "Do not Copy" will have the grown-ups laughing, too. The class decides to make the visit educational and to take advantage of the live specimens to investigate the anatomical differences between the two reptiles. Pedro, George, and all the kids, especially Josephine, become fast friends. VERDICT A fun school story that budding readers will enjoy perusing and reading again and again.-Sara Lissa Paulson, The American Sign Language and English Lower School, New York City

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.