Professional Crocodile

This wordless picture book crafted by an Italian writer and illustrator duo is clever, witty, sweet in just the right measure, and brimming with European charm. The story's told in tight, detailed panels that celebrate the small pleasures of waking up and traveling to work each day. There's window-shopping and stops in small specialty shops, where Crocodile buys a pretty bouquet he delivers to someone at work. When he's splashed by a passing car, we see the culprits, a harried mom at the wheel and a kid sticking out his tongue. It's fun that Crocodile wears a tie and sits on the toilet, though he dreams of living in the wild. And though the subway car's crowded with humans, kids will spot the well-dressed giraffe and monkey who are also commuting. There's lots of visual detail to pore over and savor.

Some parents will wonder: Why wordless? How do you even "read" a wordless book? And why not steep kids in rich text when they're smack in the midst of learning language? Though some might wish for just a bit of well-placed text here to match the fun of the art, wordless books can definitely be fodder for language development. Parents and kids can "tell" the story, and talk about all that's happening in the art. And this book has plenty of story, complete with plot and character development. Plus, surprise! Shhh! There's a really fun twist at the end!