Christou, Bethany. Nervous Nigel. Bethany Christou, Illus. Picture Book. Candlewick/Templar, 07/2022. [32]pp. $18.99. 978-1-5362-2386-6. HIGH ADDITIONAL. GRADES Preschool-1.
Nigel is the youngest in a crocodile family of champion swimmers and divers. The pressure to be the next champion is so nerve-wracking that Nigel just can’t get the words out to express that he does not want to compete. When his family finally realizes what Nigel does want, they react much better than he feared. Gouache, colored-pencil, and digital painting illustrations show plenty of humorous details as the anthropomorphic crocodiles train, compete, and accept what Nigel really wants to do.
Joshua Rees, Daly City Public Library