The Star-Faced Crocodile by David Melling

A bear wants to make friends with the star-faced crocodile, but the crocodile doesn't want to admit he's just an ordinary crocodile who found himself looking special in a reflection. The croc tries all manner of ways to make himself look special, but nothing works. Little does he realise that the best thing he can do is just be himself.

The Star-Faced Crocodile is a collaboration between David Melling and class 3 of St Nicholas Primary School in Abingdon. How cool is that? The story of how it came about (included inside the front cover) adds an extra level of interest that draws the reader in. Even without that, the tale is great fun in its own right. It's a story of friendship, fitting in and sharing, but all with a mystical twist. Throw in a troupe of playful birds in the background, and you've got a wonderful story that bears repeated readings.

We've long enjoyed David Melling's illustrations here at Bookbag. They have a great cartoony style that bristles with humour. There were crocodiles in The Flying Diggers by Ian Whybrow and David Melling, and although the personalities are completely different here, it's great to see more of them here. The trees pulling the stars down from the sky look fantastic, but my favourites are the aforementioned playful birds, who don't feature in the text at all. They add a depth to the story that rewards the reader whose imagination is firing on all cylinders.

It's a detailed and engaging story that's particularly suitable for young book fans on the cusp of reading themselves. It's not so complex and lengthy that very young readers will be lost, but it will strike a bigger chord with slightly older children. Recommended. (Oh, and more books should be collaborations with classes of children - it'll help spark all sorts of creativity amongst those directly involved, and those who are reading too. Authors, take note!)

My thanks to the publishers for sending it to Bookbag.

Every review of a book about crocodiles has to come with a recommendation of I Really Want To Eat A Child by Sylviane Donnio and Dorothee de Monfreid for further reading - it's hilarious and a firm favourite. Shine Moon Shine by David Conway has a magical twist, just like The Star-Faced Crocodile.

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You can read more book reviews or buy The Star-Faced Crocodile by David Melling at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
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