The Monkey and the Crocodile

Once upon a time, a young and eternally hungry crocodile decided to catch a monkey. “Monkeys are quicker than me, but I am smarter,” he decided, and began to watch a troop of monkeys living on the bank of a river. He watched them for a long time until he finally noticed one, the most agile and courageous: it was the first to climb to the top of a mango tree and pluck the best fruits there. “This is who I will grab and swallow!” thought the crocodile. But the monkey did not want to become anyone’s prey at all…

This tale is based on a Buddhist Jataka – a parable about the earthly incarnations of Buddha, who, according to the Indian teaching on the transmigration of souls, was repeatedly reborn in the form of various plants, animals and people. Here Buddha appears in the form of a brave monkey, who does not let anyone hurt him and twice fools a bloodthirsty evil crocodile. As in the classic Jatakas, this retelling for children combines entertainment with instructiveness, irony with seriousness. Intently following the crocodile's machinations and rejoicing at the monkey's resourcefulness, the child sees that in the end, intelligence and courage triumph over brute force and cunning.

In the picturesque drawings of the American classic book illustrator Paul Geldon (1907–1986), the characters have distinct personalities and are at the same time quite recognizable: such rhesus macaques and crocodiles are still widespread in the Indian jungle.

The books in the “For the Little Ones” series will appeal to inquisitive children aged three to five years and to adults who appreciate good illustrations and love to discuss what they have read with their children.

Recommended reader age: 2+

Author: Paul Geldon
Artist: Paul Geldon
Translation: Galina Filatova
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Melik-Pashayev
Cover type: Softcover
Dimensions: 280 × 215 × 5 mm
ISBN: 978-5-00041-549-8