Book Review: What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings by Bridget Hoes

What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings: a Guide for Crocodilian Parents (and Curious Kids) written by Bridget Hoes and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch is a fun and entertaining look at young crocodiles and alligators and how their parents take care of them. It is appropriate and accessible for children around six years-old and up. The book gives a great deal of information, while still offering humor in both words and as part of the illustrations. Details that differ between different crocodilians; which include crocodiles, alligators, caiman, and gharial, are examined as are the similarities. Even differences between a couple different types of alligators and crocodiles are included. For your readers, and their parents, that want to explore he subject further there is a small glossary and sources that can be used to discover even more information.

I really enjoyed reading What to Expect When You're Expecting Hatchlings. The facts and illustrations were paired in a way that did not lessen the importance of the facts, but made learning fun. The illustrations were bright, colorful, and sometimes a little silly, like showing an alligator sitting in a nest. I highly recommend this book for home, school, and library collections. Children and adults interested in nature and reptiles in general, will particularly enjoy it. I am going to be looking for other books in the Expecting Animal Babies series, of which this is part. What to Expect When You're Expecting Joeys: A Guide for Marsupial Parents and What to Expect When You're Expecting Larvae: A Guide for Insect Parents are available now, and I am on the hunt.