School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1--"On an island in the middle of the Sillabobble Sea lived a clever little monkey in a sour lemon tree." The monkey eats lemons every way possible, but yearns to reach a distant island on which sweet bananas grow. Between the two islands is the sea--and interspersed in the crests of the waves are the yellow eyeballs of many, many crocodiles. When the monkey wonders aloud whether there are more crocodiles in the sea or monkeys on the shore, the crocs line up to be counted, providing access to the tasty fruit. Based on a Pan-Asian folktale, Sierra's rhyming verse is perfectly complemented by Hillenbrand's cleverly detailed illustrations executed in oil, oil pastel, watercolor, and gouache on vellum. The full-page spreads carry well for group sharing, while the rhyming verse incorporates rhythm changes in the most delectable manner, creating a book that is meant to be read aloud. The youngest listeners will be able to join in on the counting while older ones will appreciate the illustrator's visual jokes. While Paul Galdone's Monkey and the Crocodile (Clarion, 1979) remains a beloved standard, Hillenbrand's vivid colors and Sierra's rich, descriptive text ensure that readers and listeners alike will delight in Counting Crocodiles.--Lisa Falk, Palos Verdes Library, CA

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

How Monkey gets from his small island to a faraway island where a banana tree grows may be a familiar dilemma but, as <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">PW wrote in a starred review, "Author and artist, working with traditional materials, arrive at an altogether fresh presentation." Ages 3-7.<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC""> (Sept.)

ALA Booklist (Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 1997)

Tired of eating lemons from the tree on her island, a monkey longs for fruit from nearby banana island. But how will she cross the Sillabobble Sea, which is filled with crocodiles hoping to have her for lunch? This energetic tropical romp will have children counting along as the clever monkey gets the best of her foes. Hillenbrand's pastel palette conjures an ocean breeze, and his illustrations are full of wonderful detail--from cookware hanging from the monkey's lemon tree to the watching, waiting eyes of the crocs bobbing in the ocean. The whimsical rhyme and repetition and the lively alliteration (crusty croc, feasting fearlessly on fishes) add to the appeal. (Reviewed Sept. 1, 1997)

Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1997)

A clever monkey, tired of the lemons on his island, tricks a family of crocodiles into helping him get to another island to eat bananas. The rhyming story incorporates several Pan-Asian folktale motifs before deviating into a silly counting book. Hillenbrand's energetic paintings add humor and movement.