What Does the Crocodile Say?
Eva Montanari

The alarm clock goes dringg dringg, mama’s tickle goes hee hee, the water goes sssplash, the car goes vroom vroom... So starts little crocodile’s morning on the first day of nursery school. But when the doorbell goes ding dong and teacher elephant says peekaboo, little crocodile starts having second thoughts and has something very loud to say.

With its delightful sounds and loveable cast of characters, this heart-warming story about a very important day in a youngster’s life speaks to a child’s (and parent’s) separation anxiety and to the joy of overcoming it.

”Montanari’s economic, softly textured pencil crayon drawings and intimate, inventive vignette framings (a bird’s-eye view of multispecies nap time is endearing and funny) provide plenty to linger over, and deliver the gentle persuasion that reluctant, or sensorially sensitive, preschoolers need.”
*Publishers Weekly Starred Review

“This endearing take on a common preschool scenario will make an appealing read-aloud at home or school.”
*Kirkus Starred Review

”There’s a fine line between drawing like a child and drawing in a way which children will identify as familiar. Montanari’s balance between the two is perfect.”
Imaginary Elevators

“This is an emotive, wonderful book, deceptively simple in its execution and proves that there are always innovations to be made in the simplest of picture book themes.”
BookTrust

“This is a lovely reassuring book perfect for toddlers, fostering attachment and encouraging the first steps towards independence at the same time. Because self-confidence comes with attachment.”
Children of Books

A really smashing ‘starting nursery’ book [...] An absolute winner this.
Red Reading Hub

"It’s the cutest picture book, that deals with going to nursery/kindergarten for the first time in the most delightful manner. [...] What Does The Crocodile Say? is super fun to read out loud, little ones LOVE to play along with the sounds and adore the emotions conveyed in Eva Montanari’s illustrations."
My Book Corner

”Les crayons de couleurs d’Eva Montanari posent un regard tendre et malicieux sur les craintes du petit personnage dans lesquelles le tout-petit lecteur reconnaîtra les siennes, et pourra ainsi les nommer et les apprivoiser doucement au fil de la lecture. Une histoire toute simple et bien menée qui deviendra sans nul doute livre de chevet.”
Paris Mômes

Awards:

★ Longlisted for BookTrust Storytime Prize: The Best Book for Sharing

Right sold:

World English: Tundra Books, Spring 2021
France: Thierry Magnier, September 2018
Spain: Editorial Juventud, October 2019
Italy: Babalibri, Fall 2020
The Netherlands: Gottmer, Spring 2021
Sweden: Lilla Pirat Förlaget, Fall 2021
Japan: Iwasaki Shoten, Spring 2020
Taiwan: Grimm Press, Summer 2020
Thailand: Amarin, Fall 2021
Brazil: Jujuba editora, Spring 2021
China: Shanghai Juvenile & Children's Publishing House, Spring 2022
Korea: Bir Publishing, 2023

For foreign rights inquiries, please contact us.