This is a good book, although not my favorite. I liked how the two animals went back and forth with each other. It is funny for kids to read because they pull tricks on each other the whole time. ( )

In this traditional literature book, a crocodile thinks he can outsmart the monkey; however, the monkey outsmarts him. This would be great for an early elementary fables unit.

In this tale, a crocodile decides that he wants to eat a monkey. So he convinces him to go for a ride in the water and tries to drown the monkey to eat him. The monkey persuades the crocodile to take him back to land because he left the tastiest part of himself in a tree. By the end of the tale, the crocodile admits that the monkey is more cunning than himself. The unique feature of this book is that the relationship between the monkey and the crocodile seems to be lighthearted and friendly even though they are trying to outwit each other.

Part Ca 5 of 1 Motif (Trickery)
Galdone, P. (1969). The monkey and the crocodile: a Jataka tale from India. New York: Clarion Books.

In this tale, a crocodile decides that he wants to eat a monkey. So he convinces him to go for a ride in the water and tries to drown the monkey to eat him. The monkey persuades the crocodile to take him back to land because he left the tastiest part of himself in a tree. By the end of the tale, the crocodile admits that the monkey is more cunning than himself. The unique feature of this book is that the relationship between the monkey and the crocodile seems to be lighthearted and friendly even though they are trying to outwit each other. ( )

Good book to share with class when discussing animals, food chains and habitats. Monkey tricks the croc several times in an effort to not get eaten. ( )