In all, the story captures the idea that with all events in our lives, nature must be explained by some fantastic tradition. In this case the tradition of why ostriches have long necks. Ostrich, we find out, has such a long neck because it was foolish enough to put its head down the crocodiles throat to check on a bad toothache. Of course crocodile, being well a crocodile, did what only a crocodile would do and clamp its jaw down because it was hungry. Although children would have a good fun laugh at this story I believe the drawings themselves looked like a child may have drawn them, and the story was simple enough to provide a lesson towards nature itself but not much else. ( )

When Crocodile gets a toothache, none of the animals are willing to take the risk of helping her, until Ostrich is moved by her tears. But Crocodile's hunger overpowers her pain, and she clamps down on Ostrich's head, precipitating a tug-of-war with surprising consequences...

This pourquoi tale from the Akamba people of Kenya offers a humorous explanation of how ostriches came to look the way they do. Verna Aardema, known for her many excellent folktale adaptations, here delivers an engaging narrative that - with its many sound-words - will lend itself to reading aloud. Unfortunately, despite her three Caldecott Medals, Marcia Brown's illustrations, which had a crude and cartoonish quality, did not appeal to me at all. ( )

Crocodile asks everyone in his habitat for help with pulling out a painful tooth. No one comes to his aid, but ostrich agrees to help. Once her head is in Crocodile's mouth, however, he chomps down and won't let go. She pulls and pulls and her next stretches and stretches. Happily, it's the prefect solution; now she drink water and eat berries without crouching down.
The sloppy sketchy style of the illustrations didn't appeal me.

Media: Watercolor ( )