The best in the world

In three sweet, funny stories, a calm crocodile and an excitable alligator complement each other perfectly. In "Ally Has Spots," Ally the gator is upset to discover they have orange spots and further dismayed when Croc delivers the news that they will not wash off: "They are part of you." To make Ally feel better, Croc agrees to be painted with orange spots to match Ally. In "Ally Is Ready!" Ally is outfitted in a suit of armor, armed with an umbrella and a flashlight, and claims to be ready for anything, but when Croc heads off for lunch, Ally throws off the gear and follows. Finally, in "The Best in the World," Ally, inspired by a video of a high-jumping frog, longs to be the best at something. Ally fails at everything they try--except, Croc counters, "being Ally." These two have the vibe of some of the best early reader duos; like Frog and Toad or Elephant and Piggie, they have deep affection for each other and support each other's efforts, as silly as they may seem. Ally is lively and emotional, while Croc is steady and philosophical, gently delivering lessons to a receptive Ally--and the reader, too. The cartoonish figures in slightly different shades of green (again, like Frog and Toad) display facial expressions and body language that will help early readers make sense of their dialogue, and the humor stands up to rereading. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A delightful tale of friendship. (Early reader. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.