cover image Croc & Turtle

Croc & Turtle

Mike Wohnoutka. Bloomsbury, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-68119-634-3

Cheered on by his supportive friend Turtle, Croc attempts to show he is the best at something, but passersby undermine his feats of strength, hopping, and speed. With a “fling!” elephant proves himself better at lifting heavy boulders; with a “wheeeeee!” rabbit easily jumps higher; and with a “zoooooooooom!” cheetah easily outruns the friendly crocodile. “I’m not the best at anything!” a defeated Croc sniffles. Turtle reassures Croc—“You are stronger than me. You can jump higher than me. And you can run way faster than me!”—before realizing that he isn’t the best at anything either. Fortunately, the pair discover that they excel at the same task: being best friends. Characterized by gentle colors and uncluttered pages, gouache paintings by Wohnoutka (Moo!) capture an innocent and uncomplicated friendship between two likable best buds. Ages 3–6. [em](Feb.) [/em]