Today I’m reviewing The Crocodile and Plover Bird: A Rare Friendship by Faye Carruthers, illustrated by Hazel Mattheou.

Here’s the blurb

Crunch the crocodile really needs someone to get their teeth stuck into a new project… helping him clean his teeth! With small claws and little resources, Crunch finds it very difficult to rid his teeth and gums of leftover food. Therefore, he sets off on a quest to find someone who will be willing to help him… but will he ever find anyone?

This fun and uplifting rhyming book teaches young minds that sometimes looks aren’t everything. Based on a symbiotic relationship, Crunch learns that help can be found in the most unlikely of friends – and that he can help them too!

Review

Myself and my little one Georgia read this together and what I found lovely was how easy she understood the message the book is trying to share.

Crunch the crocodile is very friendly and loves his food, the issue is he can’t clean his teeth easily.

Crunch tries to ask for help but finds many are scared of him..he tries and tries but no one will help.

Just when he’s about to give up along comes a lovely Plover bird.

The Plover bird isn’t scared at all and helps Crunch get those pearly whites back and they form a lovely friendship.

When I asked Georgia what she felt about the story she could see the message of how important it to brush your teeth, and floss but what was nice to see was her immediate thought was why didn’t the other animals help him..so we discussed how inherently we judge people on how they look and the importance of trying our hardest to be aware of that and to give people a chance.

Georgia found the book very easy flowing, she didn’t have any issues with the words or the pace, and she loved the characters and colours. She understood the message well and thought this is a perfect book for young readers around 6 who are reading with their parents. G is 8 and loved the story.

From my side I found it a fun easy read, It’s a quick read too and I loved the message the book gives off. We don’t know anyone’s situation so who are we to judge? Maybe we all need to be a little kinder at times and it’s good to reminded of that.

Georgia rated this a spectacular 5*, so much so daddy has to buy a copy on payday to send to the school for the little ones to read!

To find out more head to Goodreads or Amazon! Or any good local retailor 😊

My thanks go to Faye Carruthers for providing a review copy for Georgia. She loved this one!