National Geographic Kids Chapters--Crocodile Encounters

Starred review from February 1, 2015

Gr 2-4- National Geographic explorer Barr presents four suspenseful and often humorous tales of his encounters with crocodiles. In "Undercover Croc," he dons a specially developed crocodile suit to enter into a large group of fearsome crocodiles. In "Toy Story," he tries to capture a crocodile using a remote-controlled car and milk jug with hilarious and unexpected results. The third tale, "Deep Dark Den," finds Barr in Costa Rica trying to help a village relocate 13 crocodiles. When the crocs can't be found, the author climbs down into a deep dark burrow only to find himself quite literally face-to-face with the angry creatures. The final story, "Croc in a Box," follows the researcher to Uganda where he attempts to capture a troublesome crocodile to transport it to a safe home in the United States. Unfortunately, the supposedly unbreakable wooden box that he uses for transport doesn't hold up as well as expected. All four tales are fascinating, nerve-wracking, and funny. Reader Johnny Heller does an excellent job of pacing to capture the intensity and humor of each incident. VERDICT Listeners will be drawn in by the narration and captivated by the exciting stories.-Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT

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