Close Modal

Who Will Kiss the Crocodile?

A Snappy Twist on Sleeping Beauty

Illustrated by Claire Powell
Look inside
Hardcover
$17.99 US
10.06"W x 11.38"H x 0.41"D   | 17 oz | 20 per carton
On sale Sep 13, 2022 | 32 Pages | 9781680102840
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2
Reading Level: Fountas & Pinnell M
additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo
In this hilarious retelling of Sleeping Beauty, an angry fairy casts a spell that turns baby Princess Liss into a crocodile who will fall into a deep sleep, only to be woken by a kiss. But who will kiss the crocodile and break the spell?

In this hilarious spin on the traditional fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, a certain fairy is not invited to the party for baby Princess Liss. So the angry fairy shows up at the party and casts a spell on the baby. The spell turns her into a crocodile and sends her into a deep sleep when she's 15, only to be woken by a kiss. But who would dare to kiss a crocodile? The talented team behind the popular book Octopants offers up a fun take on the traditional fairy tale with rhyming text and energetic illustrations.
A snappy, rhyming retelling of “Sleeping Beauty.”

Princess Liss’ parents throw a ball for her first birthday, but they’ve left someone off the guest list, with the classic fairy-tale result: An angry fairy, with green wings and a purple dress, arrives uninvited and places a curse on the princess. In 15 years, Liss will bump her knee and die—and as an added twist, she will look like a crocodile until then. Another fairy, wearing a top hat and with orange wings, swoops in to modify the curse so the princess can be woken with a kiss. But who will kiss a crocodile, even a sleeping one? Three princes—two light-skinned, one Black—fight their way through the thorns but run screaming from Liss’ sharp teeth. Neighbors call Clare and Katarina, of the Fix-It Crew, to tend to the castle’s hedges. This tough duo are the ones to save the day, and Liss and her family celebrate with another ball. While Liss remains a passive character, this is a lively retelling. Every page bursts with bright color, and the rhyme scheme is a delight to read aloud. Princess Liss is light-skinned, her parents appear to be an interracial couple, and other characters are diverse in skin tone. 

A fresh and fun fractured fairy tale. (Picture book. 4-8) --Kirkus Reviews
Suzy Senior lives and works at the top of a huge hill in Sheffield. She lives with her family, a small gang of squeaky pets, and quite a lot of books. She loves writing picture books, making things rhyme, and eating jaffa cakes – ideally all at the same time!

Life for Claire Powell began in a cupboard under the stairs. Not as punishment like Harry Potter--it's where she went to draw. Before becoming an illustrator, Claire cut her teeth designing for many big-hitting brands, including Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation. She also animated an award-winning short film, "The Scapegoat." Claire lives and works in London in a studio just bigger than a cupboard.

Photos

additional book photo
additional book photo
additional book photo

About

In this hilarious retelling of Sleeping Beauty, an angry fairy casts a spell that turns baby Princess Liss into a crocodile who will fall into a deep sleep, only to be woken by a kiss. But who will kiss the crocodile and break the spell?

In this hilarious spin on the traditional fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, a certain fairy is not invited to the party for baby Princess Liss. So the angry fairy shows up at the party and casts a spell on the baby. The spell turns her into a crocodile and sends her into a deep sleep when she's 15, only to be woken by a kiss. But who would dare to kiss a crocodile? The talented team behind the popular book Octopants offers up a fun take on the traditional fairy tale with rhyming text and energetic illustrations.

Praise

A snappy, rhyming retelling of “Sleeping Beauty.”

Princess Liss’ parents throw a ball for her first birthday, but they’ve left someone off the guest list, with the classic fairy-tale result: An angry fairy, with green wings and a purple dress, arrives uninvited and places a curse on the princess. In 15 years, Liss will bump her knee and die—and as an added twist, she will look like a crocodile until then. Another fairy, wearing a top hat and with orange wings, swoops in to modify the curse so the princess can be woken with a kiss. But who will kiss a crocodile, even a sleeping one? Three princes—two light-skinned, one Black—fight their way through the thorns but run screaming from Liss’ sharp teeth. Neighbors call Clare and Katarina, of the Fix-It Crew, to tend to the castle’s hedges. This tough duo are the ones to save the day, and Liss and her family celebrate with another ball. While Liss remains a passive character, this is a lively retelling. Every page bursts with bright color, and the rhyme scheme is a delight to read aloud. Princess Liss is light-skinned, her parents appear to be an interracial couple, and other characters are diverse in skin tone. 

A fresh and fun fractured fairy tale. (Picture book. 4-8) --Kirkus Reviews

Author

Suzy Senior lives and works at the top of a huge hill in Sheffield. She lives with her family, a small gang of squeaky pets, and quite a lot of books. She loves writing picture books, making things rhyme, and eating jaffa cakes – ideally all at the same time!

Life for Claire Powell began in a cupboard under the stairs. Not as punishment like Harry Potter--it's where she went to draw. Before becoming an illustrator, Claire cut her teeth designing for many big-hitting brands, including Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation. She also animated an award-winning short film, "The Scapegoat." Claire lives and works in London in a studio just bigger than a cupboard.