This entertaining, thoughtful middle-grade book proposes that “a person must treat others with respect” no matter their differences.

Eager to play, a crocodile named Sandbank grabs Sarita, a human villager, and pulls her into the Sillibilli River. While asking him to let her go, Sarita calls him “Mr. Crocodile Person.” Intrigued by that name, and by Sarita’s and village head Kita’s discussion that every person deserves respect, Sandbank declares to his family that “Each of you is a Crocodile Person.”

Mr. Crocodile later invites crocodile hunter Henry Henderson to tea, to discuss what it means to be a person. Henderson takes Mr. Crocodile and his talking family to England, supposedly to help them determine if everyone is a person, but really to create an attraction out of these talking crocodiles. While in England, Mr. Crocodile befriends young Thomas and his mother, as well as the Great Gnu. They help teach him that everyone, even Henderson, is truly a person, and so should be treated kindly.

The book nicely blends humor with these profound ideas. For example, Mr. Crocodile causes a stir arriving in Crouch End, England, swiping a rude onlooker onto a serving tray with his tail. Ordering a comically large amount of food at a restaurant, he charges it to Henderson.

The illustrations enhance the text without overwhelming it. Mr. Crocodile looks elegant in a top hat, waistcoat, and black-and-white shoes, while his brother Mudbank wears jeans, a tank top, sandals, and a backwards baseball cap.

It would have been nice to hear more from Mr. Crocodile’s family, who mainly speak in one-word responses and an occasional eye-roll. Many words are capitalized that should not be, such as “Persons,” “Friends,” Audience” and “Villagers,” which becomes distracting.

Still, this is an enjoyable and meaningful story for the whole family, offering plenty of ideas to discuss following its reading.