Princess Cora and the Crocodile

Newbury Medalist author Laura Amy Schlitz’s text and Caldecott Medalist Brian Floca’s illustrations tie together seamlessly in this funny iconographic-animated fable based on their 2017 picture book. The birth of the titular princess brings brief happiness to the king and queen, who get right to work training the baby to be a leader. By age seven, Princess Cora is browbeaten by a nanny who overkills with three baths a day, a mom who force-feeds her boringly dry books for study in the tower room, and a dad who exhausts her with constant rope-skipping for strength conditioning. The gal is understandably angry, and when a request for a pet dog is shot down by the adults, Cora appeals to her fairy godmother. The next morning, a mysterious box with holes in it appears, but rather than a puppy it holds an enormous wild-eyed crocodile, who likes cream puffs and lets Cora know "I bite!" and can knock people down if she wants. While Cora takes a day off to climb trees, pick strawberries, and wade in the stream, Croc impersonates the girl as a favor and bedevils the pushy grownups with silly antics, including swinging from a chandelier and ripping the king’s trousers. Angie Kane’s narration shines--especially as the funny Croc--in this delightful tale featuring delicately drawn watercolor and gouache pictures. Bonus features include a read-along option. Highly recommended. Aud: K, E, P. (J. Williams-Wood)