Where's Your Smile, Crocodile? ANNOTATION
The other animals' silly antics can't cheer up Kyle the crocodile, but when he helps Little Lion Cub find his way home, he finds his smile as well.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
Young Kyle the crocodile has lost his smile. "Why don't you go out and play? You'll soon find it again," says his mother. But nothing works, even though British artist Julian's acrylic-rendered jungle brims with flamboyant hues and Kyle encounters a triumvirate of animal hilarity: a screeching scarlet and sapphire parrot, an orange monkey with a repertoire of funny faces and a huge pink elephant who can squirt a fire-hose worth of water from its trunk. Freedman (Tiggy Tiger) even provides the trio with vivid sound effects ("Burble! Burble! Burble!" blasts Elephant, blowing bubbles in the water). But when Kyle stumbles upon another curmudgeon in the form of a lost lion cub, he not only expertly runs through all the comedy tricks learned from his animal neighbors, he also reunites the cub with his mother. Freedman and Julian's lesson of finding joy by stepping outside one's own troubles isn't new, but it's lightly proffered and colorfully imagined. Ages 2-6. (Sept.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature - Blake Pitts
Kyle the Crocodile ventures out into the jungle in an attempt to find his smile. On his journey, he runs into several jungle animals that try to cheer him up by making silly faces and noises. Although this amuses the other animals, it does not amuse Kyle. Kyle runs upon a lost Lion Cub, and he finally finds his smile when he helps the Lion Cub find his way home. This tale of Kyle the Crocodile is about helping people. A dynamic character, Kyle learns that his happiness comes from helping other people. This is a well-written book and its illustrations make you feel as if you are walking through the jungle with Kyle. The bright colors and lovable animals make this book a joy to look at. It is a great read and a good lesson for kids to learn. 2001, Peachtree Publishers, Ages 4 to 8.
School Library Journal
PreS-K-Kyle the Crocodile wakes up grumpy one morning, and his mother encourages him to go out and play. All the animals in the jungle notice, too, that he's lost his smile, and they try to cheer him up. Parrot screeches wildly, Orange Monkey makes funny faces, and Elephant blows water bubbles, but nothing works. Forlornly plodding through the jungle creepers and lotus blossoms, the little reptile comes upon a lion cub that has lost his way home. Kyle tries to cheer up the little cub with the same tactics his friends used on him as they make their way home. In the process, Kyle's smile reappears on his face-right where it belongs. The message of finding happiness by helping someone else will not be lost on young listeners. The large format and Julian's vibrant, splashy illustrations of the endearing jungle animals will capture children's attention, making this a good choice for storyhours.-Patti Gonzales, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
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