Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5)
Genre: Children's Fiction, Humour, Classic

Book Review:
''The Enormous Crocodile'' is a classic Dahl delight—a short, sharp, and wonderfully wicked tale that's perfect for younger readers. The story features one of Dahl's most memorable villains: the Enormous Crocodile, who is not just hungry but also boastful and terribly cunning. He wants to eat ''juicy, yummy, plump, and tasty'' little children, and he's not afraid to say it.

The crocodile leaves the jungle and heads to town, meeting various jungle animals along the way who try to warn him off. He ignores them all, boasting that he has ''secret plans and clever tricks'' to catch children. His attempts are a series of hilarious and increasingly desperate disguises: a see-saw, a coconut tree, a merry-go-round. But each time, the other animals—Trunky the Elephant, Muggle-Wump the Monkey, and the others—see through his schemes and alert the children, foiling him at every turn.

Dahl's prose is rhythmic and playful, with lots of repetition that makes it ideal for reading aloud. The crocodile's catchphrase (''I'm going to fill my hungry empty tummy with something yummy yummy yummy!'') is wonderfully memorable. The story builds to a satisfying and rather brutal climax (in true Dahl style) when the crocodile gets his comeuppance, hurled into the sun by Trunky the Elephant.

Quentin Blake's illustrations are as energetic and expressive as ever, perfectly capturing the crocodile's sneaky grin and the animals' alarm. This book is a great introduction to Dahl for very young children (ages 3-6), with its simple plot, clear moral, and plenty of laughs. It's a fun, fast-paced story that will have kids cheering for the clever animals and laughing at the villain's downfall. Highly recommended.