Croco by Azul Lopez, translated by Kit Maude - OPTIONAL

Croco by Azul Lopez, translated by Kit Maude. PICTURE BOOK Tapioca Stories, 2025. $19.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

When a Crocodile falls down a deep hole, the animal friends try to give advice on getting out, but a crocodile isn't like a snake, a bird, or monkeys, and their advice won't work. 

Croco is an unusually sized book which is sure to get lost on the library shelf, however, that said, I can see the reasoning behind the format. The book is held sideways so that the pages appear to be looking at a cross section of a hole, allowing the reader to see in the hole as well as the animal friends in the trees and on the ground above. The story was clever, and didn't resolve as I anticipated, so that was fun. Originally published in Mexico. 

Lisa Librarian

I'm Joining the Herd by Saskia Gwinn and Adam Ming - ADVISABLE

I'm Joining the Herd by Saskia Gwinn, illustrated by Adam Ming. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Quarto Publishing Group, 2025. $20. 9780711295599

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

I'm Joining the Herd explores over fifty different animal groups that live and work together.  It follows a zebra character as she learns about various animal societies.  It features fun facts about packs, flocks, prides, fish, insects, and more with a focus on cooperation and community. 

Gwinn engages kids with a silly Zebra character that interacts with the animal groups.  The book reads like a graphic novel with animals speaking.  Ming's illustrations are detailed, expressive and fun.

PGPowers