Scared or Not, Mr. Croc? (Pop-Ups and Tabs) by Jo Lodge Ages 3+ 12 pages Hodder and Staughton June 2012 Hardcover     Part of the Mr Croc novelty book series, this pop-up book is well-designed and features excellent pop-ups that are sure to delight young readers. Mr Croc is having a sleepover, and he has invited all his friends. Is he afraid when they knock on the door when they arrive? Of course not! Each arrival is showcased with a pop-up illustration. There’s Owl, Zebedee Zebra, Wilf Wolf (who brings his cuddly snake toy), and Lulu Leopard, who wears her monster slippers. The biggest surprise, though, is saved for the final page when Mr Croc’s snappy puppet wearing blue pajamas jumps out at the reader. What fun! Youngsters will love this clever pop-up book that really isn’t as scary as it might seem. You’ll have fun asking your toddler, “Are you scared?” And, of course, the reply will be “Nooooo!”     web reviews   Bob Walch/2012 for curled up with a good kid's book   For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews, visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)