Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite by Nick Bromley

Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite by Nick Bromley, illustrated by Nicola O'Byrne

Rating: 4 stars

I'm willing to bet one large batch of chocolate chip cookies that after one, good, enthusiastic read of this tale where a crocodile takes over the book that any reluctant reader will be a little more curious during their next trip to the library.

Basically, as I stated above, a crocodile appears out of nowhere inside this fun book.  The first page is the first page of The Ugly Duckling but all of a sudden there's a reptilian tail sticking out and the words declare "there's something in this book that shouldn't be here!"

The crocodile tries to hide behind the illustration of The Ugly Duckling but, much to my kids' delight, his tail and feet and long snout stick out.  And THEN he starts eating the letters!  Apparently vowels are more delicious than consonants...but Ss are mighty tasty, too...

St p! Y u can't eat the letter !

With the help of the reader rocking the book from side to side, the crocodile nods off to sleep, and so...while he sleeps, the ugly duckling who is helping tell the story draws a silly tutu, floppy bow, and ballet slippers on the sleeping croc.  When he wakes--which of course he does--he is now flaming mad and looking silly.

What kid doesn't like the combination of silly and angry?! That combo has been providing giggles for centuries.

He tries to make a run for it but runs into the corner of the book.  He can't get out!  He ends up chomping his way out of the book--there is an outrageous, big hole on the last page AND on the back cover!

This is a fun, fun book for sure--my kids got a kick out of it.  But now they think a crocodile is on the loose, roaming our house...