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Growing Up

 I think maybe Tomie de Paola's best book is "Bill and Pete." It's a book that doesn't preach; it's just about the fun of storytelling.

An Egyptian crocodile needs "a toothbrush." His mother takes him to the pharmacy. We're led to think we're reading about ourselves; we have moms, too, and pharmacies! But books provide *doors* as well as *windows* .... sometimes, books lead us outside ourselves. And so the "toothbrush" the hero acquires is a small bird, with a skillful beak.

The crocodile, William Everett, loves his new pal, but he struggles at school. How can he write his name, "William Everett" --? The bird has an answer. The way to spell "William Everett" is "B-I-L-L."

In the last story, our heroes do battle with a bad guy ("Bad Guy") who wants to turn Bill into a suitcase. Lock-picking and ambush techniques are employed.

It's clear De Paola is just enjoying himself; he adds gray curls to Mama Crocodile's coiffure, and he makes the Bad Guy a dandy who, literally, twirls his mustache.

This is a five-star book.
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