Croc and Bird

The softly coloured pictures convey all the emotion and complement the feel of the book excellently. A wonderful heart-warming story * Parents in Touch *
This stunning book follows the story of these two characters and how they teach each other their individual skills. A touching tale of how family ties aren’t always so obvious to everyone but can be found right under your nose! * The Golden Treasury *
This deeply emotional and moving story about love and closeness despite difference is perhaps Deacon’s best book yet.Quite superb * Books for Keeps *
a charming, beautifully illustrated parable about sibling love – Amanda Craig * The Times *
This unusual, unsentimental story begins with two white eggs that look companionable and interchangeable. But out of one, a fledgling emerges and, from the other, a baby crocodile. Croc and Bird cannot hope to be brothers but, in Deacon’s custody, are soul-mates who forage and huddle together, wings against scales, to keep out the cold. The bird calls its nest ‘our home’ – impractical for Croc but he does not grumble. A delicate, poignant, exquisitely drawn exploration of affinity with no need for a clumping moral. (2+) – Kate Kellaway * Guardian website *

Croc and Bird mixes comical and genuinely heart-warming scenes to create a beautiful tale of love, friendship and where we feel we really belong…
Deacon tackles the theme of nature versus nurture in the utmost lyrical way, and I found myself moved to tears by the implications of Croc and Bird’s relationship: how family is what you make it, not what is expected by others, how you can feel isolated and alone amongst your kind and accepted and loved by those who are not. The subtle message found in Croc and Bird makes this book a powerful tool not only to help young readers’ understanding and acceptance of others’ differences, but also to help those who might feel, for whatever reason, isolated.

In a society that is perhaps, sometimes, judgemental of non-conformist family units, whether because of race or gender, Croc and Bird is a beautifully gentle reminder that in the end, it is the fact of loving someone and being loved in return, that really matters.

A quirky and unusual story brought to the young reader as two unlikely friends find themselves in a unique situation that allows them to grow together. It’s unusual, it has some great illustrations and demonstrates that whilst people may be different, similarities can allow everyone to become friends. Add to this some bright colours, great use of prose which when backed with the authors unique storytelling style really brings this title together on so many levels.

A truly wonderful read and one that I really can’t wait to share with my nephews.

Alexis Deacon graduated from the University of Brighton, where he studied Illustration, gaining a first class honours degree. Alexis Deacon was one of Booktrust’s ten Best New Illustrators in 2008, and Beegu was a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year and shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Alexis lives in London.

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