The Crocodile Family Book (Michael Neugebauer Books)

From School Library Journal Grade 3-6-Perhaps it's the nature of the crocodile itself that prevents it from melding to the series' concept of "family," but this book is less successful than the earlier titles. The full-color photographs, however, are spectacular, often very graphic, and the true draw here. Deeble presents the story of the Nile crocodile, which lives in the Grumeti River in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park. The personal style that is a mark of these titles is more casual here and information is imparted in anecdotal episodes: the wildebeest journey to the banks of the river (annual crocodile feast time); the fight among the males for pool ownership; the hatching of the eggs and the mother's care for her babies. All of these stories are interesting and well illustrated, but they do not flow together into an organized picture of a crocodile day, year, or life cycle. Still, the appealing cover, the surprising endpapers, and the high-quality photographs will attract browsers.