Sophie Gilmore

I love a great book by a debut author. Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast is the debut picture book by authorstrator Sophie Gilmore. What a charming book it is indeed.

The illustrations are lush and detailed, transporting the reader to Little Doctor’s clinic among the crocodiles. Full of fantasy and fearless beasts, Sophie Gilmore creates a little corner of a special world all for the crocodiles and Little Doctor.

Beyond the gorgeous illustrations, Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast show more reads just like a folktale with adventure, suspense and a message in the end. Sophie Gilmore weaves the words to the story so elegantly, it lends itself to being shared with a group of children, and even adults, in a read aloud, or better yet as a story in the oral tradition. When I was reading Little Doctor I was transported back to my childhood. It is a story that reminds me of my uncle who is a fantastic storyteller and would never spare the frightening details, mesmerizing us all. Little Doctor and the Fearless Beast will do the same. It will captivate and entertain. I know when you share this story with children, you will have the quietest group as they will be taken in right from the first page. In the end there are subtle messages about caring for creatures big and small as well as demonstrating how trust can make you brave and daring. I’m curious if the author had a similar experience of enjoying storytelling as a child as I feel like Little Doctor has all the makings of a classic. show less

A little girl helps heal all her crocodile patients but is thwarted by a crocodile named "Big Mean" who seems determined to be uncooperative.

This is fun story with an unexpected twist at the end. It is fairly short and would make a good readaloud for elementary-age kids. (While the language is pretty simple, the concepts I think would require most kids to be a bit older than preschool age.)

The illustrations really draw the reader in, even with a relatively muted palette of mostly greens and show more grays. Several page spreads contain rich details, and children will enjoy looking closely at these to see what they might discover. show less

With the storytelling feel of a folktale Gilmore evokes a place far from me, a place with lots of crocodiles. I love the interaction between Little Doctor and the crocodiles and. The tales of fierce beasts.

It reminds me of [b:The Jungle Book|77270|The Jungle Book|Rudyard Kipling|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327873594l/77270._SY75_.jpg|17441265] only without the baggage of colonial Britain's disdain for women and native peoples. Reading this together show more with [b:Freda and the Blue Beetle|48510599|Freda and the Blue Beetle|Sophie Gilmore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1571549734l/48510599._SX50_.jpg|73825678] and [b:Terrific!|55253599|Terrific!|Sophie Gilmore|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602883641l/55253599._SX50_.jpg|86157156] accentuates that comparison.

Library copy show less

Sweet and thoughtful with lovely art. Another author to read more books by. In the meantime I shall ponder if I need a Badger shelf.

Library copy