Princess Cora and the Crocodile

Princess Cora lives a strictly regimented life dictated by her well-meaning but overbearing parents and nanny. When she writes to her fairy godmother asking for help, she receives an unexpected gift: a crocodile. The crocodile offers to take Cora's place for a day so she can experience freedom and adventure beyond the castle walls. What follows is a tale of switched identities, as the crocodile impersonates the princess while she explores life without rules. During their separate adventures, both Cora and the crocodile create chaos and learn lessons in their own ways. Their escapades force the adults to confront their controlling behavior and rigid expectations. This story examines the balance between structure and freedom in childhood, while highlighting the importance of play and self-discovery. Through humor and fantasy, it addresses how children and adults can learn to understand each other better.

Readers point to this as an entertaining chapter book for early elementary students, particularly highlighting the humorous contrast between the well-behaved princess and her mischievous crocodile companion. Parents note it works well as both a read-aloud and independent reading selection. Liked: - David Small's illustrations enhance the storytelling - Teaches lessons about speaking up for oneself without being heavy-handed - Appeals to both boys and girls despite "princess" in title - Short chapters make it manageable for new readers Disliked: - Some parents found the crocodile's behavior too naughty - A few readers wanted more character development - Several noted it feels more suited to ages 6-8 than the publisher's 4-8 range Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (150+ ratings) "Perfect blend of silly and sweet," wrote one teacher reviewer on Goodreads. "My daughter loved the crocodile's antics but also understood the message," noted an Amazon parent reviewer.

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🦒 Princess Cora's author, Laura Amy Schlitz, won the Newbery Medal in 2008 for her book "Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village" 🐊 The book's illustrator, Brian Floca, is also a Caldecott Medal winner for his work on "Locomotive" 👑 The story playfully challenges traditional princess story tropes by having Princess Cora learn self-advocacy rather than waiting to be rescued 🌟 The book was named one of the Best Children's Books of 2017 by Publishers Weekly and The Wall Street Journal 🎨 The illustrations were created using watercolor, ink, and gouache to achieve their whimsical, classic storybook feel