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The Crocodile and the Scorpion
It's hard to make friends when you're always stinging or biting someone...Down by the great big, brilliant blue river, a not-so-bright crocodile and an equally pea-brained scorpion lived peacefully by themselves. One day, the scorpion realized he needed help getting across the river. Could they control their natural instincts long enough to make it across together?Rebecca and Ed Emberley offer a sprightly new twist on another classic tale with colorful artwork so bold and bright it snaps off the page.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2013
24 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 6, 2014
Poorly written and I just can't get into this illustration style.
September 21, 2017
Scorpion needs the crocodile to get across the river. Can he trust the crocodile not to bite him? Can crocodile trust that scorpion won't sting him? The moral of this fable is that some instincts can't be overcome. This is a simple story that would make a great readaloud, with an opportunity for the audience to predict the ending. The bright, colorful, and large illustrations give the story a tropical feel. Recommended.
June 8, 2022
Not much of a story but the illustrations are gorgeous and my daughter loves this one; the ending always makes her laugh.
March 13, 2014
Bright fun illustrations, but not enough story to sustain it. The crocodile and the scorpion do not have much brains between them, but a few additions to the story might have made it more worthwhile.
April 3, 2014
Didn't love this one. The illustrations were nice but the story left a bit to be desired. Kind of scratching my head and asking, "That's it?"
March 4, 2022
The Crocodile and the Scorpion by Rebecca Emberley, Ed Emberley- Children’s Illustrated Colour Picture Book- The book narrates the story of a crocodile and a scorpion who both wanted to befriend each other but have a small brain. Both remain hungry. Scorpion knows that food is available on the other side of the river. Both have no friends because of their natural tendencies to sting and bite, yet they reach out to each other to cross the river. Scorpion sits on the back of the crocodile to cross the river. Scorpion tries to suppress his natural instincts but fail. Scorpion stings the crocodile and the crocodile snaps the scorpion until they sink to the bottom of the blue river. Coloured illustrations help the reader in relating to the story. I have read the Hindi language translation of this book.
October 4, 2017
They just met. First the crocodile was on the side of the river and a scorpion came and asked him can I ride on u our back please. The scorpion said can I go on your back so I can cross the river. Then the crocodile said will you promise not to sting me and the scorpion said will you promise not to bite me. You don't break promise. If you break promise then someone broke the promise they...it's not good. Last, they were fighting under the water. They were fighting because they broke their own promise. The scorpion stung the crocodile and crocodile bite the scorpion!
I like this book because I think some other people should read it because the book I learned that you have to keep your promises or if you don't, it could cause problems.
I like this book because I think some other people should read it because the book I learned that you have to keep your promises or if you don't, it could cause problems.
October 20, 2024
“The Crocodile and the Scorpion” is a cautionary tale that explores themes of trust and betrayal. In this story, a not-so-smart crocodile and a pea-brained scorpion form an unlikely alliance when the scorpion requests help crossing a river. Both promise not to harm each other, hoping to forge a new friendship. However, the scorpion's instinct takes over, leading him to sting the crocodile, which results in the crocodile biting back. The vibrant full-page illustrations enhance the narrative, capturing the attention of young readers and emphasizing the moral lesson behind the characters' actions.
February 3, 2021
This is by far the best folk tale that I have ever read. I would read this book to first or second grade students. Although this is a folk tale, it has a great lesson within it that can be beneficial to younger students. I would read the book to the class, and then have some sort of lesson that would allow them to understand that even the most unlikely pair can become friends if they are willing to work together.
February 5, 2020
2.5 stars -- I've always seen this fable depicted with a scorpion and a frog, but this one has a less violent end. The moral is the rather philosophical observation that damaged and problematic types tend to attract one another, with bad results for both parties.
This book is very short, jarringly so. The papercut-style illustrations are bright with colors that seem to glow from the page.
This book is very short, jarringly so. The papercut-style illustrations are bright with colors that seem to glow from the page.
September 20, 2020
The Crocodile and the Scorpion by Rebecca Emberley can help teach students the importance of building healthy relationships with their peers. Teachers want all their studetns to get along with each other. This book can help students understand reasons why some friendships do not work. It is also full of color which will help keep studetns interested.
April 8, 2021
This book is great for a lesson about the differences that we all have in our life. Its about two animals that are different but still be friends no matter what! This book is so great and so awesome to read for the students! Overall great book!
April 10, 2021
While I have never heard of this story before, I understand the meaning. The scorpion just can't help himself and the crocodile is only defending himself too. Quite an odd book, but children love books full of color and funny things.
March 11, 2020
This is a good book that could be used to show how important it is to trust people when you need help and to not hurt people who are helping you.
June 21, 2021
This story had a good message about broken trust. I just felt that it left something wanting at the end, or maybe that was the idea.
May 24, 2023
Made me laugh...always a good sign!
March 1, 2016
Title: The Crocodile and the Scorpian
Author: Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley
Illustrator: Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Animals, Rivers
Opening Line/sentence:
The crocodile lived on the banks of the great big brilliant blue river.
Brief Book Summary:
The story focuses on the relationship between a scorpion that needs to cross and river and a crocodile that offers to help. Both have no friends because of their natural tendencies to sting and bite, yet they reach out to each other to cross the river. Although they try to suppress their natural instincts, they both fail and the story is ended abruptly as the scorpion stings the crocodile and the crocodile snaps the scorpion until they sink to the bottom of the river.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
The Horn Book
A scorpion convinces a crocodile to give him a ride across the river, and, because it's his nature, stings him halfway across. The crocodile bites back, and the two continue to fight as they sink to the river bottom, where "you can hear them arguing still." Electric blues and greens predominate in a muddled retelling of an often-modified fable.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The Emberleys (The Ant and the Grasshopper) reinterpret a grim, lesser-known fable about two baddies whose natures come back to bite (and sting) them. From the get-go, the father-daughter team infuses the narrative with humor, introducing the protagonists in less than flattering terms: They both had brains no bigger than a pebble, which did not serve them very well, as you will see. Neither has any friends, since the scorpion is always stinging things, the crocodile is always biting things, and their victims seem not to like that. With good reason, readers will be skeptical when the characters promise not to sting or bite each other while the crocodile carries the scorpion across the river, and after giving into their impulses, each blames the other as they sink permanently to the river bottom. The Emberleys' angular, geometric cut-paper art is more static and less varied than some of their previous collaborations, and the ending (while true to the original) is abrupt. Still, there's plenty of fun to be had watching these two Darwin Award contenders bring about their doom. Ages 3-7.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviewers make an effort to analyze this fable, however I feel the Horn Book review simply summarizes the storyline instead of providing an opinion. I agree with the second review in its statement that the geometric shapes add a new flair to the story, making it seem more edgy and abstract. The story’s abrupt ending leaves the reader a little robbed with a “that’s it?” feeling as the moral of the story can be a bit unclear. However, before the ending, the book is mildly suspenseful as the reader wonders if the scorpion will actually make it to the other side of the river.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book’s plot is simple and short as the character meet, attempt to cross the river, and then fall to their impulses to all the way to the bottom of the river. The characters are not at all dynamic because they do not change their ways in order to survive the passage to the other riverbank; they fall victim to their natural instincts. The vibrant colors of this book and straight-line style are appealing for young readers and give an abstract vibe to the story. Both the crocodile and scorpion are made to look jagged to give the characters a more unfriendly feeling. Overall this book is very simple.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book would be useful at the beginning of the year when setting classroom guideline. Also if aggression can be frequently seen in the classroom, this story might serve purposeful in teaching children that being mean to each other, or being mean to someone simply because they were mean to you gets both of you nowhere. This book could be a good book to do a lesson on how we treat others. Also the illustrations in this book could be tied to a shapes lesson or an art lesson where children explore creating animals out of basic geometric shapes using ripped paper.
Author: Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley
Illustrator: Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Animals, Rivers
Opening Line/sentence:
The crocodile lived on the banks of the great big brilliant blue river.
Brief Book Summary:
The story focuses on the relationship between a scorpion that needs to cross and river and a crocodile that offers to help. Both have no friends because of their natural tendencies to sting and bite, yet they reach out to each other to cross the river. Although they try to suppress their natural instincts, they both fail and the story is ended abruptly as the scorpion stings the crocodile and the crocodile snaps the scorpion until they sink to the bottom of the river.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1:
The Horn Book
A scorpion convinces a crocodile to give him a ride across the river, and, because it's his nature, stings him halfway across. The crocodile bites back, and the two continue to fight as they sink to the river bottom, where "you can hear them arguing still." Electric blues and greens predominate in a muddled retelling of an often-modified fable.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2:
Publishers Weekly (Publishers Weekly)
The Emberleys (The Ant and the Grasshopper) reinterpret a grim, lesser-known fable about two baddies whose natures come back to bite (and sting) them. From the get-go, the father-daughter team infuses the narrative with humor, introducing the protagonists in less than flattering terms: They both had brains no bigger than a pebble, which did not serve them very well, as you will see. Neither has any friends, since the scorpion is always stinging things, the crocodile is always biting things, and their victims seem not to like that. With good reason, readers will be skeptical when the characters promise not to sting or bite each other while the crocodile carries the scorpion across the river, and after giving into their impulses, each blames the other as they sink permanently to the river bottom. The Emberleys' angular, geometric cut-paper art is more static and less varied than some of their previous collaborations, and the ending (while true to the original) is abrupt. Still, there's plenty of fun to be had watching these two Darwin Award contenders bring about their doom. Ages 3-7.
Response to Two Professional Reviews:
Both reviewers make an effort to analyze this fable, however I feel the Horn Book review simply summarizes the storyline instead of providing an opinion. I agree with the second review in its statement that the geometric shapes add a new flair to the story, making it seem more edgy and abstract. The story’s abrupt ending leaves the reader a little robbed with a “that’s it?” feeling as the moral of the story can be a bit unclear. However, before the ending, the book is mildly suspenseful as the reader wonders if the scorpion will actually make it to the other side of the river.
Evaluation of Literary Elements:
This book’s plot is simple and short as the character meet, attempt to cross the river, and then fall to their impulses to all the way to the bottom of the river. The characters are not at all dynamic because they do not change their ways in order to survive the passage to the other riverbank; they fall victim to their natural instincts. The vibrant colors of this book and straight-line style are appealing for young readers and give an abstract vibe to the story. Both the crocodile and scorpion are made to look jagged to give the characters a more unfriendly feeling. Overall this book is very simple.
Consideration of Instructional Application:
This book would be useful at the beginning of the year when setting classroom guideline. Also if aggression can be frequently seen in the classroom, this story might serve purposeful in teaching children that being mean to each other, or being mean to someone simply because they were mean to you gets both of you nowhere. This book could be a good book to do a lesson on how we treat others. Also the illustrations in this book could be tied to a shapes lesson or an art lesson where children explore creating animals out of basic geometric shapes using ripped paper.
November 13, 2023
This is a very kid friendly book. I really liked how the crocodile and scorpion became friends at the beginning. Then they started arguing over a broken promise. I feel like this can relate to friends fighting over broken promises. It just adds some realism to the book and I like it.
January 27, 2014
I have mixed feelings about this book--something that would prevent me from reading this to a child is the fact that there is a great deal of emphasis on the fact that neither of the characters are particularly smart. That's mentioned several times at the beginning of the story, and this lack of intelligence is blamed for what happens at the end of the book. The book reads as though arguing like these characters do is a result of not being very bright. I felt that this was not a great message to send to children because people make mistakes sometimes, but that does not mean that they are inherently of limited intelligence.
The book reads like a fable, but I felt that it was a little bit of a stretch to make that be the case.
I did really like the pictures, though! They were bright and colorful.
The book reads like a fable, but I felt that it was a little bit of a stretch to make that be the case.
I did really like the pictures, though! They were bright and colorful.
January 5, 2014
This variant of a familiar folktale features a crocodile and a scorpion. Neither one has many friends since their innate natures cause them to either bite or sting those they encounter. They agree to put their differences aside and not bite or sting one another during a trip across the river. Unfortunately, the scorpion simply can't control itself. His stinging of the crocodile prompts the crocodile to snap at the scorpion, and the ill-fated trip is very short. The stunning illustrations allow the personalities of the two animals to be highlighted on every page, but the ending was disappointing. This would be a good title to use to demonstrate how not to make friends. Prickly folks or those who lash out at others don't usually have many friends, after all.
March 10, 2014
Emberley, E. (2013). Crocodile and the Scorpion. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press
One would never think a crocodile nor a scorpion could be a friend- one likes to bite and the other likes to sting. One day the scorpion decides he needs to go across to the other side of the river. He pleads for the crocodile to give him a ride, promising not to sting him. Can the scorpion keep his promise?
This is different twist on a classic fable. Although the story is ho hum, the artwork is enticing. Bold, torn pieces of paper makes up the collage like designs. Designed for the pre-K- Kindergarten group who are more interested in the bright colors. I nice read-aloud with a predictable ending.
One would never think a crocodile nor a scorpion could be a friend- one likes to bite and the other likes to sting. One day the scorpion decides he needs to go across to the other side of the river. He pleads for the crocodile to give him a ride, promising not to sting him. Can the scorpion keep his promise?
This is different twist on a classic fable. Although the story is ho hum, the artwork is enticing. Bold, torn pieces of paper makes up the collage like designs. Designed for the pre-K- Kindergarten group who are more interested in the bright colors. I nice read-aloud with a predictable ending.
February 18, 2015
How can one make friends when you are known for stinging or biting someone. Near a great big river, a crocodile and a scorpion each live peacefully by themselves; however,one day, the scorpion needs to cross the river and askes the crocodile for help. Can they control their natural instincts long enough to make it across?
Rebecca and Ed Emberley's bold, colorful torn- and cut-paper collage illustrations are the highlight of this classic tale about friendship and promises. Reviewer 21
Rebecca and Ed Emberley's bold, colorful torn- and cut-paper collage illustrations are the highlight of this classic tale about friendship and promises. Reviewer 21
September 10, 2014
Scorpion and Crocodile have no friends because they are constantly causing harm unintentionally. When Scorpion asks Crocodile for help crossing the river Crocodile is afraid that Scorpion will sting him. Scorpion is equally afraid that Crocodile will bite him. They make a deal not to harm each other while crossing the river. However, Scorpion cannot resist. When he stings Crocodile, Crocodile bites him in return. To this day they are arguing at the bottom of the river.
October 30, 2015
I enjoyed reading this tale. The text gives the reader a window of creativity. The illustrations were bold and correlated with the story. The main thing I took from the story was working together is good. Although the two main characters did not usually get along, they knew they needed each other for a bigger goal. I would recommend this book. In a classroom setting it could be added to a lesson where the students are placed to work with a partner.
January 1, 2017
Blocky, colorful illustration which could be an inspiration for a kid craft is the best part of this tale. This runs the line of 'just so' stories - explaining why you can hear rivers rush. But the tale is a little clunky. I've heard it told with more finesse.
Storytime possibilities: animals, friends, water
Storytime possibilities: animals, friends, water
April 2, 2014
Generally speaking, I love the Emberleys' books, but I wanted this one to have slightly less abstract pictures. It's hard to tell that the crocodile and scorpion are at the bottom of the river in the end. Otherwise, very cute re-telling of this fable.
July 15, 2014
This fable written using simple words and colorful illustrations tells the tale of two animals that start out helping one another, but can’t hold a bargain and can be found today still arguing with each other on the river bottom.
December 18, 2014
Traditional Literature Picture Book 2013
Great colorful pictures supplement this tale of two fighting animals who need each other. They have to fight their natural instincts in order to succeed. This would be a fun addition to a study of fables.
Great colorful pictures supplement this tale of two fighting animals who need each other. They have to fight their natural instincts in order to succeed. This would be a fun addition to a study of fables.
January 23, 2015
I love the beautiful colors in the illustrations. The storyline is ok, but the ending is totally ridiculous. This could be a great read-aloud if done with impressive voices for the two characters.
June 26, 2015
Bold illustrations depicting the story of the crocodile and the scorpion and how they don't have very many brains between them. Funny but not a lot of substance.
Good read for PS and up, Crocodile/ Alligator Storytime
Good read for PS and up, Crocodile/ Alligator Storytime
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews