Tomie dePaola has created two memorable friends in this wonderfully funny picture book. Bill, the crocodile, and Pete, his toothbrush bird friend, were inspired by the Egyptian plover, which does indeed act as a crocodile toothbrush.

Their adventures together along the banks of the River Nile, which include Bill’s first day at crocodile school and an encounter with the Bad Guy from Cairo, are filled with the originality and offbeat humor of this favorite author-artist.