El cocodrilo que vino a cenar

The Who Came for Dinner

by Steve Smallman, Joëlle Dreidemy (Illustrator)

Lobo y Estofado son unos amigos muy peculiares. No todos los días se ven un lobo y una ovejita con una amistad tan firme.

Al final de uno de sus paseos nocturnos encuentran un extraño huevo en el suelo. "¡Una tortilla!" piensa Lobo. "¡Un bebé!" piensa Estofado, quien decide que lo mejor es cuidar el huevo y darle calor hasta que haga "crack" y de él salga... ¡un cocodrilo!

Este libro continúa la historia de esta inverosímil pareja que descubrimos en La ovejita que vino a cenar y que pudimos conocer a fondo en Los lobos que vinieron a cenar, que se han convertido en verdaderos clásicos de la literatura infantil.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Humor, Childrens, Storytime, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2021

About the author

Steve Smallman lives in Staffordshire with his wife, two dogs and two cats. He has four children and a grandchild. Steve has been illustrating children’s books for almost 30 years and writing his own stories for slightly less. He also teaches illustration workshops in schools, including mural-painting. Steve is the author of Smelly Peter the Great Pea Eater (Winner of the Sheffield Children's Book Award 2009) and The Lamb Who Came for Dinner (Shortlisted for the Red House Children's Book Award and read by Meatloaf on CITV's Bookaboo). When he’s not working, Steve enjoys films, television, gardening and walking in the countryside.

Steve Smallman on Steve Smallman:

I started working as an illustrator when I was in my final year at Art College and now, over 28 years later I still haven't got a proper job! I've illustrated literally hundreds of books, predominantly in educational publishing. A few years ago I was main illustrator for Longman's 'Story Street' reading scheme, illustrating 79 titles and writing 5.

I've worked in children's television, specifically in character development and most notably in the 'Raggy Doll' series in the mid to late 1980's. I have also done a certain amount of licensed work, illustrating characters such as Postman Pat, Bill and Ben and Sesame Street.

I've been described as an 'Animal Artist', not I hasten to add because I'm wild and hairy but because I love to draw animals and especially like to give them human characteristics.

I've been writing children's books for about 6 years and have already had several picture books published with more in development.

I've got 4 great children and although they're all adults now, my memories of them growing up inspire and inform my writing.

Reviews

[Stace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com

The Crocodile Who Came for Dinner is a hardcover, children’s picture book about fighting stereotypes. Friends Hotpot (a lamb) and Wolf (a wolf), find an egg. Wolf wants to make an omelette with it but Hotpot tells him he can’t and after checking with all the locals to see if it is theirs, they take the egg home and decide to look after it.

Not long after arriving home the egg cracks and out pops a baby crocodile which they name Omelette. The locals in the woods though are not so sure about them having a crocodile. They believe that he is okay whilst he is small but when he grows he will gobble them all up. As he gets bigger the locals get more and more worried but will Omelette become the ferocious beast they believe he will?

A book that is about fighting stereotypes is a fabulous asset for any child. The Crocodile Who Came for Dinner teaches them this in a fun and humorous way accompanied by colourful, amazing artwork that will keep young minds engaged and interested.

There is quite a lot of text so this would either need to be read by a confident reader or read to/with a none or new reader, though there are no big complicated words for them to get stuck on and the illustrations perfectly represent the story so they could work out what was happening via the pictures.

The book is part of a series of books featuring Hotpot and Wolf though it works perfectly on its own. The book is enjoyable and will hopefully educate the reader about stereotyping subtly and entertainingly.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Много симпатична книжка за малки читатели/слушатели.
Едно голямо яйце се появява в гората и никое птиче не си го разпознава. И от това яйце се появява едно крокодилче, което е толкова добро и любвеобилно, че всички го заобичват.

[Solange Vidal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es el primer libro de esta serie que leemos mi hijo y yo. A él la historia le ha parecido entretenida y se ha admirado con la amistad entre los animales. Estuvo curioso también sobre como el lobo y la oveja cuidaban del cocodrilo.

[Elfo-oscuro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mantiene en lo más alto la calidad de los títulos de esta serie.
En este caso "Dobo" y "estofado" encuentran un nuevo amigo. En la misma semana leído varias veces

[Neftis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como todos los libros de esta serie, un libro maravilloso y muy bonito.

[Aimée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erinnert ihr euch an das kleine Schaf und seinen besten Freund, den großen Wolf? Eines Tages finden sie ein Ei. Wolf hat Hunger und will ein Omelett, aber Schaf brütet es aus - es ist ein Krokodil! Und natürlich haben alle anderen wieder Angst davor und müssen eines besseren belehrt werden. Ultraniedlich.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are several picture books featuring eggs of unknown origins being brought into homes and then hatching into creatures that surprise their new family. This new picture book was one of the more charming ones because of its ending and how the suspense builds throughout the pages. Wolf and Little Lamb certainly are something of an odd pairing, but with a little compromise, they make their friendship work. When they stumble upon an egg that seems to belong to no one, they decide to take it home and care for it even though Wolf can't help but think of the culinary possibilities. Once the egg cracks open, and an alligator emerges, they realize that life won't be easy, but the baby, whom they name Omelet, is a bit of a challenge. Still, the two friends fall in love with Omelet, as do most of their friends eventually. But Badger is the naysayer, and he keeps warning everyone that Omelet might not be a danger right now, but as he grows, he will become much more of a risk to the other animals. It looks as though Badger's warning was apt since Omelet is missing after a fierce storm. Wolf and Little Lamb follow his tracks to the river where he is in hot pursuit of three ducklings washed away during the bad weather. As the others watch, sure that he will save the babies, Omelet opens and shuts his mouth with the ducklings inside. All the animals except for Badger are shocked, but then he opens his mouth again once he's on dry land and deposits those babies safely. Little Lamb and Wolf are relieved but also justified in their faith in their adopted child's good nature, and Badger is chastened. There's a good lesson here about assumptions and how nurture may be more impactful than nature, and readers will chortle at the closing line that "they all lived snappily ever after" (unpaged). The colorful illustrations capture the animals' personalities quite well. Readers who enjoyed this picture book will want to check out this creative team's other two titles about Wolf and Lamb: The Lamb Who Came to Dinner and The Wolves Who Came to Dinner.

[Sanna lukee lapselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hassussa kuvakirjassa Susi ja lammas nimeltä Bääbää löytävät munan, josta kuoriutuu krokotiili. Se saa nimekseen Munakas ja kasvaakin hurjan isoksi! Munakas on kiltti, vaikka kaikki eläimet eivät meinaakaan sitä uskoa. Kekseliäs kertomus siitä, miten ennakkoluulot eivät aina osu oikeaan.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, reminds me of a tale made up on the spur of the moment when a kid asks for a new story. I really like the mix of animals.

[Desireé Romay · Rating 5 out of 5]

LA siguiente entrega del cuento. Es la mas divertida de las tres.

[Pablo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Casi tan bonito y tierno como el cuento de “La ovejita que vino a cenar”. A mis hijas les encanta :-)

[julieta · Rating 3 out of 5]

CUTE, tengo q parar de leer tantos cuentos pero es q los amo

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry is always up for a book about a baby, so this has been a big hit for us this September - age 3

[Jojo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro muy divertido

[Estrella Plaza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Está muy divertido.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have been reading all the books we can by Steve Smallman. Now we finally know why Alligator's name is omlette!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lamb and wolf are friends. they find an egg. when it hatches, an alligator pops out and they name him. omelette. Omelette soon becomes the darling of the animal community. adorable.

[Emmy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute with an unusual premise.

[Cris]

Es una historia donde la amistad es lo más importante. Aunque biológicamente es una amistad bastante improbable, ya que no hay lobos vegetarianos o cocodrilos no carnívoros. Ideal para los niños de 3 en adelante.

[Jemma Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful book all about prejudice and how to overcome them. A great teaching book and beautifully illustrated. Possibly my favourite of the books gifted to my toddler this year. The names of the animals made me actually laugh out loud and I love that lamb calls the wolf woof as that is what our son calls them too. A wonderfully sweet book with a great message. Highly recommended and I’m sure I’ll know it by heart soon!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Steve Smallmanin Krokotiili nimeltä Munakas -kuvakirja on jatkoa Lisää soppaa, herra Susi?-kirjalle. Pidin todella paljon ensimmäisestä teoksesta ja jatko-osa on entistä hulvattomampi! Myös lapset pitivät kirjasta ja uskon, että lapset töissä myös pitävät tästä teoksesta.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful book. Hotpot and wolf find an egg, a crocodile egg,
What will they do with it.

[Minna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ihanaa satutuntikamaa! Mahtava kuvitus ja kiva tarina!

Lukuhaasteet 2021:
Pori: Kirjan nimi on alkukielellään jotakin ihan muuta kuin suomennettuna (The Crocodile who came for Dinner)