Croco

by Azul López, Kit Maude (Translator)

Overview

“Three cheers for this resourceful reptilian!”―Kirkus Reviews

In a vibrant tropical jungle, Croco the Crocodile has fallen into a hole and can't climb out. Different animals come along to try to help him, but in the end, he must find his own way out.

This charming picture book for early readers teaches us about resilience and the importance of helping others, no matter the obstacles in our way. Croco, the protagonist, tries to follow the advice of his friends to escape his predicament, only to realize the solution was within him all along. The story builds tension as Croco remains trapped, culminating in a satisfying ending that restores harmony and marks his growth. A simple story about an everyday problem, this book draws readers in with its steadily building suspense.

Set in a lush tropical jungle full of vibrantly colored animals, the book's illustrations create striking visual contrasts across different scenes. Croco, positioned at the bottom of the page, tries various strategies to climb out of the hole, while the animals above him attempt to assist him. The carefully composed artwork features expressive brushstrokes and meticulously arranged characters, establishing a dynamic visual rhythm between the two planes—the world above, where the animals try to help, and the world below, where the bright red protagonist struggles to escape his accidental trap. Young readers will root for Croco as he navigates his challenges, making this a heartwarming tale of perseverance and friendship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798988749974
Publisher:	Tapioca Stories Llc
Publication date:	10/28/2025
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.86(h) x (d)
Age Range:	5 - 9 Years

About the Author

Azul López is a Mexican author and illustrator of picture books. Her books have been published in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Italy, France, Spain, South Korea, The Netherlands, USA, Germany, Greece, and Sweden. Her stories and drawings have received multiple international awards, such as the International Award for Illustration from the Bologna Children's Book Fair and the Green Island award from the Nami Island International Picture Book Illustration Concours in South-Korea.Kit Maude is a translator based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He has translated dozens of Latin American and Spanish writers for a wide array of publications and writes reviews for Ñ, Otra Parte, and the Times Literary Supplement.

Editorial Reviews

STARRED REVIEW! “When a crocodile tumbles into a deep hole, a parade of well-meaning animals offer advice about how he might escape. López’s deceptively simple premise unfolds with perfect pacing. The visual storytelling is extraordinary; López employs compositional dynamics that create tension and release. Croco’s position at the bottom of each spread emphasizes his predicament, while the helpful animals perch safely above, creating a clear visual hierarchy between the trapped and the free. The palette practically pulses with tropical energy. The story captures both individual character and collective community effort, showing failed collaboration giving way to successful self-reliance without undermining the value of the friends’ attempts to help. This is picture-book creation at its finest—creators who understand their audience completely, crafting a tale that works equally well for storytime groups and one-on-one sharing. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish. Three cheers for this resourceful reptilian!”—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

★ 2025-07-04
When a crocodile tumbles into a deep hole, a parade of well-meaning animals offer advice about how he might escape.

López’s deceptively simple premise unfolds with perfect pacing as a snake suggests that Croco wrap his body around a tree trunk, birds recommend that he flap his (nonexistent) wings, and monkeys encourage him to leap out—all techniques that work brilliantly for the advisers but prove useless for a crocodile. Translated from Spanish by Maude, this Mexican import builds suspense through repetition and escalating frustration until Croco’s tears become the key to his salvation. The visual storytelling is extraordinary; López employs compositional dynamics that create tension and release. Croco’s position at the bottom of each spread emphasizes his predicament, while the helpful animals perch safely above, creating a clear visual hierarchy between the trapped and the free. The palette—dominated by jungle greens, vibrant oranges, and sunny yellows—practically pulses with tropical energy. The scaly orange endpapers immediately establish texture and tone, while brushy, organic illustrations give weight to every leaf and blade of grass. The tactile quality of the vegetation contrasts beautifully with Croco’s red scales. The story captures both individual character and collective community effort, showing failed collaboration giving way to successful self-reliance without undermining the value of the friends’ attempts to help. This is picture-book creation at its finest—creators who understand their audience completely, crafting a tale that works equally well for storytime groups and one-on-one sharing. Publishes simultaneously in Spanish.

Three cheers for this resourceful reptilian!(Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews