A Crocodile Should Never Skip Breakfast
by Colleen Larmour; illus. by the author
Preschool, Primary    Kids Can    32 pp.
6/24    9781525308345    $19.99
e-book ed.  9781525313394    $13.99

Croc, who works as the local river ferry for other animals in the jungle, is running late one morning and doesn’t have time for his usual bowl of Snappy Snacks cereal. Backup plans fall through: all of the doughnuts at Hippo’s stand are sold out; his emergency banana falls in the mud. When he finally begins his shift with an empty belly, Croc discovers a new problem: his animal passengers look delicious. Larmour’s lighthearted text uses repetition and occasional direct address (“Told you”), with entertaining dialogue shown in word balloons. Thought bubbles enhance the humor, such as when Croc envisions his passengers in meal form (e.g., a warthog hot dog). The illustrations, in bold gouache hues finished digitally, also provide various comedic pauses, as when Croc’s hunger hits a fever pitch and a shower of doughnut sprinkles rains down before his wide, intense eyes. Croc’s feelings are palpable, including relief when a friend swoops in just in time. A fast-paced, comical reminder that breakfast really is the most important meal of the day.

From the July/August 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.