National Prize for Children’s & Juvenile Literature 2003
J.J. works in an office in a city and lives a monotonous and routined life, until one morning, when he discovers a crocodile under his bed that eats up his shoes. He is confused and tells the butcher about it, who thinks his discovery-vision is a symptom of working too much. And the butcher suggests it wouldn’t hurt to get to know somebody… Listening to the butcher, J.J. becomes aware of his situation and realises that he can’t go around telling people about the crocodile under his bed.
J.J. wants to find a solution to his problem. He goes to see a doctor who, without flinching, listens to his distress and prescribes the adequat medicine: Cocodrifil tablets, Cocodritalidon suppositories and fizzy cocodritamine.
But he soon realizes, that he can’t free himself from the crocodile.
“Admitting to having a crocodile in your life is not easy. One might say, there are many small and large changes one is forced to face.” But what else can he do? Because in the end, his colleague Elena is right: “At this point, I would talk to him. That’d be the best. Either you make friends or he eats you.” And instead of banning his crocodile from his life, he starts living with it.
With direct language and drops of humor, the author narrates the vital anguish of a man to whom something happens that he simply cannot explain. The crocodile could be the distress that accompanies it, the loneliness, the depression, or the lack of dreams. And he learns how to listen to them, instead of ignoring them.
A wonderful story, not only for children, but also for adults.
From Ana Sancho – Babar Magazine, 05/01/2005
(slightly adapted English translation)
Catalan edition (La Galera)