Last week, I had the pleasure of taking Fred out an outing to my little one’s kindergarten.
(I have talked to many school groups about Fred, starting with the lovely story of how he began when my high-school-friend-become-kids-book-writer, Matthew Zurbo, happened across a picture in my folio of a reclining crocodile. Matthew left my studio, quiet and thoughtful and unbeknownst to me, rushed home and wrote the story that night.)
I was surprisingly nervous, wondering if Isobel would like me being there, and it had been a while. Would I remember everything? Were they too young? Would they be bored? Would the kids like the book?
I need not have worried. It was a lovely morning as the kids, already familiar with Fred, “CHOMPED” on cue, asked funny and sometimes disarming questions, and then threw themselves into making lovely little snapping cardboard crocs and painting portraits of Fred. And Isobel gave me such a super-grip hug at the end that I knew she was pleased.
Thank you Amy for devising such super activities for the children: I want to make a snapping crocodile too!