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ISBN: 978-988-97075-3-8
Soft cover, 21 x 21 cm
40 pages, full colour
Published: Dec 2004

Price: HK$78 / US$9.95

A Sixth Finger Press book

A television-loving crocodile named Crafty swims from his riverside village to find fame in the big city. His arrival is front-page news all around the world! But once there, he begins to question what he really wants.

No ordinary children's book, The Crocodile who wanted to be Famous was inspired by the saltwater crocodile that visited Hong Kong, was captured after a 10-month search, and now lives in the Hong Kong Wetland Park. The blending of fact, fiction and fable make the story a true classic in the making.

Artistic and humorous illustrations will inspire and amuse children and adults alike. The bilingual format can assist readers learning English or Chinese, and lends authenticity to a story based in southern China.

Available in all good Hong Kong bookshops. Or order online securely with any credit or debit card, or with Paypal, by clicking the button on the left. For other methods of payment, see here.
 

MEDIA ATTENTION

"Local writer Alan Jefferies has borrowed from the real-life adventures of Hong Kong's own Yuen Long croc Pui Pui to create a story which is both humorous and thought provoking. It is a story which is sure to resonate with readers of all ages, touching on the hot topics of pollution, parental authority, and the effects of too much bad TV. The illustrations, by unsung local talent Mariko Jesse (who also illustrated the girl-power book Sarsparilla's New Shoes by Hong Kong-based writing twins Ming and Wah Chen) are sweet and whimsical and ideally suited to the text. The bilingual book is also written in Chinese, and would make a lovely Christmas gift for any Hong Kong child between the ages of 4 and 14." — Karmel Schreyer, The Asian Review of Books

"The illustrations by Mariko Jesse are fun and it has an easygoing pace and a touch of humour that would work well in the classroom." — Hazel Parry, South China Morning Post

"Overall it's a simple story that children will relish, especially if they are familiar with the saga of our real-life croc. Parents will also get a kick out of it because not only will the book resonate with children, but it will make them ask questions about animals, human nature and the state of the environment. This is one croc who may never be as famous as his heroes, Jackie Chan and Yao Ming, but in his own way he's likely to be just as inspiring." — HK Magazine

"The tale is spiced with local flavour, including a folk song sung by an old boatwoman who longs for her long-lost daughter. Alongside the English, there is a Chinese translation by Liang Yue, and humorous illustrations by Mariko Jesse. The bilingual format can assist readers learning English or Chinese, and lends authenticity to a story based in this part of the world." — Joyce Ng, The Student Standard