AGE LEVEL
3 and 4 year-olds
GENRE
Picture Book
REVIEW
Due to Mother Duck's deep absorption in the book she's reading, a crocodile egg rolls into her nest unnoticed, and she raises the baby reptile Guji Guji as one of her own. One day, however, three nasty crocodiles inform Guji Guji that he is not a duck, and ask for his help with catching his duck siblings. This prompts Guji Guji to consider who he is, in this example of the story's humorous and thoughtful text, "'Is it true? Am I a bad crocodile too?' He looked down into the lake and made a fierce face. Guji Guji laughed. He looked ridiculous. 'I am not a bad crocodile. Of course, I'm not exactly a duck either.'" This very highly recommended book skillfully addresses several positive themes, exhibited in Mother Duck’s unconditional acceptance of Guji Guji as her child, Guji Guji’s loyalty to those who accept and love him, and his creative response when he realizes he must protect his duck family. Heartwarming brown, blue and greenish-gray ink illustrations of the stubby-legged Guji Guji strutting around happily in duck fashion add to the charm of this book. The lengthier text of several pages makes this book appropriate for 3 and 4 year-olds.
LIBRARY PROGRAMMING IDEAS
Read this story aloud during preschool storytime along with other picture books about hero crocodiles such as Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile, by Bernard Waber, as well as a simple nonfiction book about crocodiles.
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