Faustin Charles

The selfish crocodile didn't want anyone else to drink or bath from the river so one day he shouted to the creatures of the forest to stay away from the river because it was his. Nobody came near the river; they were scared of the crocodile. One morning the forest was awakened by a loud groaning sound. The crocodile was crying in pain and the creatures watched him in pain. Some thought he might die and then they could finally use the river again and some felt sorry for the crocodile. Then a show more mouse ran to help the crocodile while all the creatures watched in fear for the mouse. The mouse had pulled the crocodile's tooth out which was causing the crocodile tooth pain. The crocodile gave the mouse a nut to thank him and the two became the best of friends. One day the crocodile finally sent all the animals an invitation to come drink and bathe from the river and the river soon belonged to everyone once again.

This story was really cute. I really liked how the little mouse was the only one brave enough to help the crocodile and how the mouse's kindness changed the crocodile into a better crocodile. This story reminds me a little bit of the Lion and the Mouse fable, but with a slightly different message. Overall, this was a great story to teach children kindness and sharing. show less

"Savage" one could understand, or "sedentary" given its posture as depicted by the artist, but there seems no reason whatever for branding the crocodile of the title as "selfish". Indeed, on the book's cover, it appears to be sharing its time and broad snout with a mouse. What an outrage.

1. In a river deep in the forest, a large selfish crocodile did not want any other animals to drink or bathe in the river. He told the animals to stay away from the river, or he would eat them. All the animals vacated the river and had to walk for miles to find water and bathe. The crocodile lay in the sun, enjoying the river all to himself until his mouth was gripped with pain. His groans echoed through the forest and startled the other animals. They peered through the tall grass to see the show more crocodile rolling around in agonizing pain. Suddenly a small mouse sniffed the air, ran onto the crocodiles’ stomach and then into his mouth and removed a bad tooth. The crocodile was elated, along with the other animals of the forest. He gave the mouse a nut, and sent invitations to the other animal to drink and bathe in the river.

2. I enjoyed the true life illustrations that selfishness is not beneficial and how some decision we make can come back to hurt us.

3. I would use this book to illustrate that we all can be selfish sometimes and that it is not beneficial. I would also refer back to the crocodile when the students are being selfish, it would be a great example in a teachable moment. show less

The Selfish Crocodile is a great addition to your social-emotional learning books. In this story, children will learn an important lesson about friendship and kindness. The Selfish Crocodile had kept all the forest creatures away because he wanted to have the river all to himself but little did he know that one day he would need one of the animals from the forest to come and save him! The beautifully made illustrations along with the story will immediately captivate young readers’ show more attention as they learn a very important lesson. show less