For fans of Elephant & Piggie and Frog & Toad comes an easy-to-read series about another unlikely pair: Croc and Ally. These two best friends don't always see things the same way, but there's one thing they do agree on--their friendship comes first!
Croc is grumpy. Ally is happy. Croc sees a problem. Ally finds a solution. In Fun, Fun, Fun, the best friends overcome their differences as they go for a swim, shop for hats, and deal with a big bug.
With three short stories, easy-to-read vocabulary, and adorable illustrations, this book is perfect for progressing readers.
PreS-Gr 1—Friends Croc and Ally couldn't be more different. Tall and lanky Ally, an alligator, is full of optimism and good cheer whereas Croc, a crocodile, is a short and stout and generally grumpy. The book is divided into three, very short chapters accompanied by large, cartoon illustrations that chronicles the pair's various adventures. In the first chapter, they go swimming even though Croc hates the thought of getting wet and in the second chapter, Ally talks Croc into shopping for a new hat. The last chapter revolves around the duo finding a spider under a chair in their home and since they are both terrified of spiders, they are reduced to calling Ally's mother to board an airplane, train, and a bus to take care of it. VERDICT: Filled with lots of repetitive words, silly humor, and easy to understand concepts, this title is a nice fit for newly independent readers.
Croc and Ally: Fun, Fun, Fun! continues a new humorous series that has potential as an Elephant & Piggie readalike.
As I wrote about Croc and Ally: Friends Forever, "This one is fairly successful! No speech bubbles here, and the illustrations are more detailed than Willems', but the short scenes are winsome. Croc (a crocodile) is the straightman/grouch to Ally (an alligator) the optimist/funnyman."
Fun, Fun, Fun! features three chapters: an ill-fated attempt at staying dry, a hat shopping expedition, and - my favorite - the discovery of a bug that leads Croc and Ally to call for some extra help.
Fun, Fun, Fun (Croc and Ally) by Derek Anderson. EARLY READER. Penguin Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2018. $9.00. 9781524787103
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ESSENTIAL.
AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH
Crock and Ally go on three separate adventures in this easy reader. From swimming to hat shopping, and even getting rid of a dreaded bug, Croc and Ally meet each challenge together.
Perfect for readers transitioning into early chapter books. It has three simple short stories with mass appeal. The dynamic between Croc and Ally is hilarious and will easily engage the reader.
Addition for your early reader set with short vignette chapters. Shelve near the Ballet Cat, Giggle Gang, Snail & Worm, and Duck Duck Porcupine series.
Croc and Ally are best friends, even if they are very different. In the first story, Ally wants to go swimming but Croc wants to stay dry. In the second story, Ally thinks Croc needs a new hat so they go hat shopping and explore opposites. In the third story, Croc and Ally see a bug so Ally does the most natural thing, he calls his mother...who has to make quite a journey to help the guys out.
I liked the hat story, which explored opposites in a fun way. But I absolutely loved the last story. It was hilarious. I know a few people who would also like to call their mother to come from far away rather than deal with a spider on their own. And I love that Ally's mom is there for them, despite the distance. This is a super quick, simple read with a good amount of humor. The illustrations complement the words very well. Hand this to beginning readers who like to laugh.
Oh, how I wish the only female depicted in this story wasn't a heavily stereotyped "mother" with a lavender bonnet, pink purse, and pink polka dot neck scarf. It's not helped by the fact that her son calls when he is scared and she (of course!) immediately travels across who knows what distances to help him, using three forms of transportation to do so. The fact that she is the only brave/reasonable one in the story does help soften it a bit, though. Also, I like her spider relocation plan instead of spider squashing, as one might have expected.
Thanks to Penguin Young readers for the review copy.
Three short stories for beginning readers. I didn't really like the first two stories, because they were mostly about one friend (Ally) being "fun" while the other friend (Croc) was grumpy. That's not my objection, because Ally keeps not listening to Croc and being kind of rude about it. I don't have any particular objections to the last story, but that's not exactly something to recommend it.
Croc and Ally have more adventures including a debate over whether to go swimming, a search for a new hat for Croc, and the conundrum of what to do when a bug is under your chair. Another funny buddy-duo series with Elephant & Piggie feels.
While reading this book, I really liked the illustrations and how they were humorous and matched with the words in the story. This book had three different entertaining stories. They each had little lessons expressing emotions through the characters. Overall, I would love to have this in my classroom library.
My four year old loves Croc and Ally! Ally goes swimming, decides Croc needs a new hat, and discovers a bug under his chair! Outgoing Ally and grumpy Croc make for funny stories!! We read this aloud, and giggles ensued from the littles!