Croc & Turtle

July 15, 2019
Winter fun...inside or out? Friends and neighbors Croc and Turtle each make a list of snowy-day amusements. Turtle's are all inside activities; Croc's are all outside. Like the true friends they are, they compromise and decide to do everything on both lists. They start with ice skating, but Turtle's never skated. It ends with a scary spin and a face-plant for Turtle. They switch to an indoor activity: making snowflakes. Turtle's are beautiful; Croc's are a confetti-and-tape mess. Sledding is terrifying (for Turtle), and a puzzle is boring (for Croc). The two have a falling out and go their separate ways. But a snowball fight and skiing are no fun for Croc without Turtle, and drawing and playing cards are equally joyless for Turtle...so the two apologize to each other, and Turtle has an idea. While Turtle makes cookies and cocoa inside, Croc builds an igloo outside; and the duo enjoys their warm treat in a frosty fort. Wohnoutka's second chronicle of this reptile relationship is as charming and sunny (despite the wintry setting) as the first. The text consists entirely of dialogue, with each critter's color-coded. Neither character has an assigned gender. Listeners and young readers will identify with the conflict and hopefully learn from the creative solution. Should win this pair more friends and fans. (Picture book. 2-7)

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November 5, 2018
Cheered on by his supportive friend Turtle, Croc attempts to show he is the best at something, but passersby undermine his feats of strength, hopping, and speed. With a “fling!” elephant proves himself better at lifting heavy boulders; with a “wheeeeee!” rabbit easily jumps higher; and with a “zoooooooooom!” cheetah easily outruns the friendly crocodile. “I’m not the best at anything!” a defeated Croc sniffles. Turtle reassures Croc—“You are stronger than me. You can jump higher than me. And you can run way faster than me!”—before realizing that he isn’t the best at anything either. Fortunately, the pair discover that they excel at the same task: being best friends. Characterized by gentle colors and uncluttered pages, gouache paintings by Wohnoutka (Moo!) capture an innocent and uncomplicated friendship between two likable best buds. Ages 3–6.

January 24, 2020

PreS-Gr 1-Best friends Croc and Turtle are back. Each has made a list of fun things to do on a snowy day. There's just one problem: Croc's list is full of outdoor activities (he doesn't seem to realize he is cold blooded) while Turtle's is full of indoor ones. Since they want to play together, they agree to do everything on both lists. It doesn't go well. Turtle can't skate or sled and Croc can't do crafts and is bored by puzzles. After storming off, they realize it is no fun without each other and come up with the perfect compromise. The cartoon illustrations are rendered in gouache and will appeal to young readers who like their friendship lessons lighthearted and fun. VERDICT Best for collections that already own the first title, but it also works as a stand-alone story on friendship.-Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
Preschool-G One snowy day, Croc dresses warmly and runs next door to show his best friend, Turtle, his list of ideas for winter activities. Turtle has a list, too, but there's a clear difference: Croc is eager to play outdoors, while Turtle prefers indoor fun. They try taking turns, but sledding terrifies Turtle, and working on a jigsaw puzzle bores Croc. After an argument, they play separately, but they miss each other. Working together, they discover a solution that pleases them both. Cheerful endpapers, displaying Turtle's childlike drawings of wintry fun, frame the story in a charming way. Using direct, simply written dialogue and pleasing gouache paintings, this picture book expresses the genuine disagreement between these sympathetic, googly-eyed characters, as well as their strong friendship. Croc's red plaid trapper hat, complete with fur-lined ear flaps, looks purely comical when the story begins, but later it seems to amplify his sadness as well. An engaging sequel to Croc & Turtle: The Bestest Friends Ever! (2018), this picture book explores tension between friends and how to resolve it.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)