A lot to like!

Reptile buddies Croc and Ally return in a fourth collection of goofy antics with three comforting, if somewhat rote, short stories. Heavy-browed Croc (a crocodile) plays the squatty straight man to lanky Ally's (an alligator) sillier foil. In "Ally Likes Blue," a disagreement over favorite colors and shapes leaves Ally questioning Croc's judgment but valuing their friendship. "Pancakes" finds the pair in the kitchen as Croc cooks up a storm hoping to broaden Ally's food preferences. Where an exhausted Croc slumps next to a spaghetti-faced Ally holding his bloated tummy, the narration reads, emphatically, "Ally was really, really, really full. And Croc was really, really, really tired of cooking." Finally, "Little Croc" introduces an agreeable sock puppet who brings out Ally's playful side to Croc's consternation. The dialogue, free of speech bubbles, is set nicely apart from bold, cartoon illustrations that offer visual cues in support of the straightforward vocabulary. While not groundbreaking, there is a lot to like about the vignettes. These three stories of unlikely friendship should entertain without overwhelming emergent readers.

Two different but good friends--an alligator and a crocodile--talk about their preferences. Cheerful Ally, a gator, questions all the choices that Croc, the grumpy crocodile, makes. Drawing with crayons, Ally insists that blue, circles, and seven are "the best" color, shape, and number, respectively. When Croc calmly states a preference for red, squares, and the number nine, Ally is irritated but still appreciates their friend. "It is a good thing I like you so much….You are one weird crocodile." In another story, Croc patiently tries to offer Ally alternatives to pancakes. All prove to be tasty and enjoyable, but after lots of cooking and eating, the very full Ally still asserts that pancakes are their favorite. Finally, Ally creates a "Little Croc" sock puppet that agrees with everything Ally says. Croc is not amused until Ally says, "Croc, I am only kidding….You know I like you the best." Made up of short, repetitive sentences and succinct chapters, this early reader chronicles a funny, simple story along with black-outlined, humorous drawings of a tall alligator and a stout crocodile who walk on two legs. The characters' affection and respect for each other despite their differences are heartening. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A winsome reminder that when opposites attract, true friendship can flourish. (Early reader. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.