Big Green Crocodile

Parents and carers will welcome this new and original action rhyme book which helps them to play creatively with babies and toddlers, and have lots of fun.


Specially devised to entertain and delight very young children (and incidentally to help along their vocabulary and cognitive skills) here are sixteen original play-rhymes with child-friendly illustrations to cover the events of a baby's or toddler's day, and guidance on how to play. The rhymes cover the day, from morning playtime and lunchtime to being out and about, teatime, evening playtime, bathtime and bedtime. They feature jungle animals, farm animals, buzzing bees, big green crocodiles of course, tractors, rockets, aeroplanes – and lots more!

"This is a lively and engaging collection of contemporary action rhymes. Child-friendly images bounce, zoom, creep and bump off the pages filling the space with a lively visual experience. The colours are vibrant and textured - in tune with the immediacy of the words. So get zooming to the moon or tap, tap, tapping with those wooden spoons - it will be fun."

"A perfect collection to introduce young children to the joy of poetry."

"A collection of new nursery rhymes, this is a book for parents and adults to share with the very youngest to spark a lifelong love of poetry... a perfect post-lockdown book, allowing adults and small children to connect and share poems. It’s beautifully presented and perfectly illustrated."

"We do love this book, and I am about to Face Time with a 3-year old...which one shall I choose? Big Green Crocodile."

"Whether your children are babies, soon to start reading at school, or somewhere in between, this is for you. Caroline Rabei's wonderful illustrations showing enthusiastic young child participants in all the action make this an even more delightful sharing experience for both children and adults."

"A delight. Love it. Rhymes for inside, outside, quiet and loud, sitting and standing. With actions added for each one on every page. Love it."

"Rhymes that make you want to clap your hands and laugh out loud."

"A truly MUST-HAVE for anyone spending time with young children. And forget the book’s blurb that mentions 'toddlers and babies', many of the sixteen original action rhymes inside will be appreciated by school-age children too. The rhymes are infectiously rhythmic and each one is accompanied by LET’S PLAY guidance on suggested actions. [A] wonderful collection, joyfully illustrated by Carolina Rabei."

"This is a delightful book full of rhymes which are perfect for babies and toddlers. Each rhyme is beautifully illustrated. The writer has included useful ideas for engaging your child playfully with each of the rhymes...You will soon be adding new ideas of your own..."

"This is a lively and engaging collection of contemporary action rhymes to be chanted (or just recited) with actions for babies and toddlers; the suggested actions are detailed in neat inserts with each verse, no equipment required, just you and the child – and hands, feet and faces...

Accompanying each rhyme are illustrations by Carolina Rabei. They are a perfect match. Her child-friendly images bounce, zoom, creep and bump off the pages filling the space with a lively visual experience. The colours are vibrant and textured – in tune with the immediacy of the words."

Jane Newberry’s unique insight into very small children began as a puppeteer at children’s parties, where she discovered what makes them laugh. For over 25 years Jane taught Early Years Music to various groups. She wrote and illustrated three song books, A Sackful of Songs, A Sackful of Christmas and Hey, What’s in the Sack? before moving on to gather the many play-rhymes used in groups over the years. Jane lives in Cornwall.


Carolina Rabei gained a BA in Graphic Design in Moldova and a distinction in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. Her artwork is a unique mix of traditional and digital techniques. Her first picture book, Snow (Faber), was published to critical acclaim and was nominated for the Kate Greenaway Medal. Carolina is the illustrator of Binky's Time to Fly (Otter-Barry Books, 2019). She lives in Cambridge.

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