I, Crocodile

In 'I, Crocodile,' an Egyptian crocodile enjoys a contented life along the Nile until Napoleon Bonaparte captures him and takes him to Paris. The crocodile becomes a celebrity but soon grows homesick for the Nile. He must cleverly find a way to escape and return to his beloved river. The book explores themes of displacement, adaptation, and the quest for home. While robbing Egypt's mummies, sphinxes, and palm trees, Napoleon can't resist bringing home a souvenir crocodile as well. All Paris is enchanted with this exotic creature. But for a crocodile with an appetite as big as his ego, being the toast of the town has its downside, too. What's a crocodile who's used to a dinner of flamingo, snake, or mongoose to make of chocolate mousse? Oh, to return to his beloved Nile! But fickle Napoleon has other plans for our hero. Inspired by an obscure nineteenth-century French satire, I, Crocodile is the first book Fred Marcellino has written as well as illustrated. It received recognition as a 2000 ALA Notable Children's Book, 1999 New York Times Best Illustrated Book, and made the 2000-2001 Georgia's Picture Storybook Award and Georgia's Children's Book Award Masterlist.