The Tale Of Mr. Crocodile Takes Tea by Lance Lee centers on Sandbank, a crocodile who, after capturing a girl named Sarita, makes a pact with her brother, Kita, to release her in exchange for hosting a High Tea. This sets off a series of events where Sandbank, now Mr. Crocodile, seeks out the human perspective on crocodiles and other creatures, advocating for them to be recognized as "persons." Henry Henderson, a hunter is persuaded to stop culling crocodiles. Mr. Crocodile travels to England with Henderson, where he meets a boy he dreamed of named Thomas and his family. Still, Mr. Crocodile grows increasingly dissatisfied with the treatment of animals during a promotional tour, and wonders if all creatures, including Gnus, deserve recognition as "persons" as well.

The Tale of Mr. Crocodile Takes Tea is a delightful little story of differences and respect, addressing the idea of "otherness" in a way that young readers can easily grasp. Lance Lee's story takes readers on a thoughtful journey that leans into how creatures are perceived and treated. The writing is quirky, and, while it occasionally bends the rules of grammar and punctuation, this did not detract from my enjoyment. Both my youngest reader and I love Cilla Hunkeler's illustrations, which are finished in colored-pencil sketches and breathe life into the pages in a simple yet effective way. The minimalist approach to the artwork gives the book a distinct, somewhat raw feel, perfectly matching the story’s underlying message. Overall, this book offers a unique perspective on empathy and respect, making it a worthwhile read for children and parents alike. Recommended.

What if humans and wild animals could see and respect each other as persons? Sandbank lived in the Sillibilli River on the edge of a village in Africa, alongside a large float of crocodiles. One day, bored and tired of his mundane routine of eating and swimming, Sandbank pulled a lady, Sarita, into the water to play. Sarita cried for help, while her alarmed brother, Kita, whom she had been walking with, ordered, threatened, and eventually negotiated with the crocodile to release his sister in exchange for a High Tea date. Kita achieved this feat by convincing Sandbank, who he now called Mr. Crocodile, that they were all persons, and persons should not harm each other. Mr. Crocodile, who had been seeking more from life, relished the idea that he was a person and would be taking tea with humans. In The Tale of Mr. Crocodile Takes Tea by Lance Lee, Mr. Crocodile embarks on a journey to discover whether humans are persons, and his experiences enlighten him and young readers.

When I started reading this book, I could not see a crocodile as anything but a wild animal. By midway into the book, I realized that humans also have “wild” tendencies toward wild animals. Humans are scared that crocodiles will eat them for lunch, while crocodiles are scared that humans will use them for bags, shoes, and belts. The Tale of Mr. Crocodile Takes Tea by Lance Lee is a fable, so I do not think the author was advising that humans befriend crocodiles; rather, it teaches young readers that we should treat all creatures as best as we can. This book expanded my perspective on life and increased my empathy for animals. The unique illustrations by Cilla Hunkeler added color to the story and aided my imagination.