A tale of unity told through a Crocodile’s search for whether we’re all persons. The Tale Of Mr. Crocodile Takes Tea by Lance Lee sees Mr. Crocodile and his family become convinced that villagers who live on the banks of the river are persons like he is when they share afternoon tea. Mr. Crocodile then sets out on a mission to decide if all people are persons too and learns more along the way. Much like his previous book, The Tale Of The Animals' Christmas In Crouch End, this fable style children’s book sees animals anthropomorphised and displaying empathy and living companionably with those that they may not do normally in the wild and not showing the behaviour you'd normally expect from those animals. I think that the inclusion of Mr. Crocodile highlights the main theme of this story of unity. That despite different appearances, everyone deserves respect and you should be nice to everyone you meet. A positive lesson for a children’s book. The Tale Of Mr. Crocodile Takes Tea is a bit daft, there’s some moments that are quirky that will make readers smile, like the image of a crocodile emerging from a river in top hat, waistcoat and dress shoes, and I certainly laughed trying to picture how a Crocodile was even able to put a top hat on with its little arms, let alone doff it in greeting. However, the story also has a traditional feel, almost like a Roald Dahl style story- the world is as you know it aside from a couple of key elements. Stories that encourage empathy, unity and friendship despite differences, and invite care and consideration for the animals and environments around us are as vital now as they’ve ever been. The Tale Of Mr. Crocodile Takes Tea is an entertaining and quick read to deliver that message.
A fantastic, comedic fable of how the biggest Crocodile ever learns he is a Person, Mr. Crocodile, and to enjoy High Tea with sandwiches and cream scones with Kita and Sarita, and to treat their fellow Villagers along the SilliBilli River in Africa as Persons as deserving as his own Crocodile family. He dreams of a boy, Thomas, in England, and with the help of the last Great White Hunter visits Thomas in London who helps him decide all the English, and Africans, and Crocodiles, are equally Persons in a vision of racial harmony as the result of a tour with his family: Audiences are charmed by talking Crocodiles . Mr. Crocodile decides after a climactic meeting with Gus the Greathorned Great Gnu that Gnus are Persons to treat well, as Persons, too, despite their great difference from himself! On his return to Africa Mr. Crocodile sets off to bridge the differences between everyone....
Lance Lee is a Manhattan-born author, poet and playwrite whose poems, stories and articles for adults and children, have appeared widely in both American and English journals. A number of his plays have been produced and published.
His works also include a children's novel, Orpheus Rising, 2021, "A Best Book of 2021, Indie" Kirkus Reviews, and a children's novella, The Tale Of Brian And The House Painter Mervyn, 2022, in addition to The Tale Of The Animals' Christmas In Crouch End, 2023.
