Alexa and the other children at her escuela in Costa Rica have a special project: they are raising American Crocodiles. She names her croc Jefe, which means "boss," because he seems to be in charge of all the other babies. Alexa brings him chicken and frogs to eat, and writes about his progress in her diary. Soon, her little hatchling is as big as a loaf of bread. He has grown into a juvenile and it is time for Alexa to say goodbye and for Jefe to return to the wild.
2 of 2 copies available
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Creators
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Publisher
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Awards
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Release date
August 25, 2016 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9781643511283
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PDF ebook
- ISBN: 9781643511283
- File size: 2678 KB
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- ATOS Level: 4
- Lexile® Measure: 580
- Interest Level: K-3(LG)
- Text Difficulty: 2-3
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Reviews
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September 1, 2016
K-Gr 3-Readers follow Alexa, a young girl from Costa Rica, as she nurtures and cares for a baby crocodile named Jefe. The book is formatted like a diary, with each spread beginning a new day and a new learning opportunity for Alexa. In addition to detailing her daily tasks (feeding Jefe pieces of chicken, measuring his growth, and tracking his development), the narrative incorporates general information on crocodiles. Readers will learn of the differences among alligators, caimans, and crocodiles. A number of Spanish words (with their English translations directly following in parentheses) appear throughout the work. An introductory note explains that Alexa's story is a fictionalized portrayal of a real program in Costa Rica that allows young students to temporarily care for a baby crocodile. With a mixture of photographs and retro-style illustrations, this enlightening offering will entertain and educate readers. Moreover, the large font allows for this title to be used as a read-aloud in a classroom environment. The authors stress the importance of safety and learning to live peacefully with our crocodile neighbors. VERDICT Purchase to complement elementary science curricula on reptiles.-Kathia Ibacache, Simi Valley Public Library, CA
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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July 1, 2017
Photographs by Brady Barr, Jessica Rosnick, and Mario Aldecoa. This accessible diary, in English with occasional Spanish words and translations, gives a fictionalized account of schoolchildren's hands-on study of American crocodiles in Costa Rica. Alexa records the progress of a baby croc from its hatching to its release in the wild. Page design is haphazard, but realistic drawings and photographs lend a you-are-there feel; back matter provides more information about crocs and conservation.(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
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