''Solomon Crocodile'' is a 2011 picture book by
Catherine Rayner
Catherine Rayner (born 1982) is an Edinburgh-based British illustrator and writer of children's books. She was born in Harrogate and grew up in Boston Spa, later studying at Leeds College of Art and Edinburgh College of Art.
She won the Kate G ...
. It is about a mischievous
crocodile
Crocodiles (family (biology), family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large, semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. The term "crocodile" is sometimes used more loosely to include ...
called Solomon who wants to play with various birds and animals but just annoys them until he finally meets another playful crocodile.
Reception
Booktrust, in a review of ''Solomon Crocodile'', wrote that "Catherine Rayner's lovely artwork vividly depicts a lively cast of animal characters in this gorgeous picture book," found similarities between the book's illustrations and those of
Quentin Blake
Sir Quentin Saxby Blake (born 16 December 1932) is an English cartoonist, caricaturist, illustrator and children's writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl, which are among his most popular works. For his l ...
, and concluded, "this is a picture book to treasure." The Scottish Book Trust called it a "beautifully illustrated picture book," while ''
The Horn Book Magazine
''The Horn Book Magazine'', founded in Boston in 1924, is the oldest bimonthly magazine dedicated to reviewing children's literature. It began as a "suggestive purchase list" prepared by Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney Field, proprietors of t ...
'' and a
King County
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population was 2,269,675 in the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Washington, and the 12th-most populous in the United States. The county seat is Seattle ...
librarian recommended it for storytime.
''Solomon Crocodile'' has also been reviewed by ''
Kirkus Reviews
''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, no ...
'', ''
Books for Keeps
''Books for Keeps'' is a British online magazine covering children's books.[Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...]
'',
AARP
AARP, formerly the American Association of Retired Persons, is an interest group in the United States focusing on issues affecting those 50 and older. The organization, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., said it had more than 38 ...
, ''
Booklist
''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...
'',
[ and '']School Library Journal
''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...
''.
Awards
* 2012 Kate Greenaway Medal
The Carnegie Medal for Illustration (until 2022 the Kate Greenaway Medal) is a British award that annually recognises "distinguished illustration in a book for children". It is conferred upon the illustrator by the Chartered Institute of Librar ...
- shortlist
* 2012 Scottish Children's Book Award - nominee
* 2014 CPNB Picture Book of the Year - winner
''Solomon and Mortimer''
Rayner wrote a sequel in 2016, titled ''Solomon and Mortimer''. It involves Solomon and his new buddy Mortimer, the crocodile that Solomon met at the end of the previous book, getting up to further mischief.
See also
* '' The Enormous Crocodile''
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Solomon Crocodile
2011 children's books
British picture books
British children's books
Animal tales
Children's books about crocodilians