View source for The Crocodile Under the Bed by Judith Kerr

{{infobox2
|title=The Crocodile Under the Bed
|sort=Crocodile Under the Bed, The
|author=Judith Kerr
|reviewer=Rachael Spencer
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9780007586752
|pages=32
|publisher=Harper Collins
|date=September 2014
|aznuk=0008166684
|aznus=0007586752
|cover=0008166684
|summary=Matty is just a little boy who wants to go to a party, but he gets sick and can't. He's very sad, that is until the crocodile under the bed comes along with other ideas. A lovely bedtime story to send little ones off into fantasy worlds of their own.
}}
Judith Kerr wrote the classic [[The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr|The Tiger Who Came to Tea]], and now she is back with ''The Crocodile Under the Bed'', which I’m fairly certain is going to join it in classic status before too long. This time, Matty is a little boy who wants desperately to go to the party but he gets sick so can’t go. He’s having no fun, but there’s somebody who is pretty sure he can help with that; the crocodile under the bed…

This is an enchanting tale full of magic which is more than likely to inspire plenty of dreams full of big snake slides, and romping tiger rides through the woods. I think this is a great idea for a story, taking children's imaginations and using it as the basis for the whole book works so well to capture the attention of the reader.

Some of the illustrations aren’t quite as crisp as those from ''The Tiger Who Came to Tea'', but they suit the story well and I love the crocodile’s wings, which work as a good visual representation for Matty’s journey from his bed to this fantasy land with the crocodile from under his bed. The pastel colours are a welcome change from all the really bright and boldly coloured picture books available these days, more calming for a bedtime read.

Just the fact this book exists is exciting in itself, being from the author that it’s from, and I think a lot of people will feel that same way. It is an utterly charming story, and I can imagine many children drifting off to sleep whilst listening to the story of Matty, hoping that they might get to have half the fun he had whilst missing his party.

If by any chance you've missed it, be sure to take a look at [[The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr]] and if you're after an alphabet book, try [[My First Mog ABC by Judith Kerr|My First Mog ABC by Judith Kerr]].

'''Editor's Note''': We've now seen ''The Crocodile Under the Bed'' as a board book, making this excellent book suitable for even younger Judith Kerr fans.

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