The Christmas Crocodile (Nancy Pearl's Book Crush Rediscoveries) - Hardcover

Author Bonny Becker has crafted a rollicking reptile romp, with an apologetic refrain--"The Christmas Crocodile didn't mean to be bad, not really"--to which children can surely relate. David Small, creator of the Caldecott Honor-winning The Gardener, accompanies Becker's spritely, funny text with equally amusing, expressive illustrations that will have youngsters poring over this book long after the last present has been unwrapped. (Ages 4 to 8) --Brangien Davis

Bonny Becker is the author of the popular Bear and Mouse series of picture books, illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton, including the New York Times bestseller A Visitor for Bear. She is also the author of a number of award-winning picture books and middle-grade novels. Becker lives in Seattle, where she writes full-time and teaches at the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts. Learn more about her online at www.bonnybecker.com.

David Small is the recipient of the 2001 Caldecott Medal (for So You Want to Be President?, written by Judith St. George), the 1998 Caldecott Honor and Christopher Award (for The Gardener, written by his wife, Sarah Stewart), and the 2008 E.B. White Award (for When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, written by Elise Broach), among many other accolades. His graphic-novel memoir, Stitches, was a 2009 National Book Award finalist. Small’s drawings have appeared in the New Yorker and the New York Times. He lives in Mendon, Michigan. Learn more about him online at www.davidsmallbooks.com.

Nancy Pearl is a librarian and lifelong reader. She regularly comments on books on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition. Her books include 2003’s Book Lust: Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason; 2005’s More Book Lust: 1,000 New Reading Recommendations for Every Mood, Moment, and Reason; 2007’s Book Crush: For Kids and Teens–Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Interest; and 2010’s Book Lust To Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers. Among her many awards and honors are the 2011 Librarian of the Year Award from Library Journal, the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association, the 2010 Margaret E. Monroe Award from the Reference and User Services Association of the American Library Association, and the 2004 Women’s National Book Association Award.