Not since Bernard Waber's Lyle has a crocodile inspired the kind of kudos I, Crocodile (HarperCollins/di Capua) by Fred Marcellino is currently receiving. The first book both written and illustrated by Caldecott Honor-winner Marcellino (Puss in Boots), this tale of a Nile crocodile captured by Napoleon and his minions for an ostentatious fountain display in Paris is evidently working its wiles on reviewers and readers. "This crocodile is full of attitude," said Virginia Anagnos, publicity director for HarperCollins Children's Books. "He's hilarious; I think that's why both kids and adults can really relate to the book."

Released in October, I, Crocodile has been steadily picking up steam, garnering glowing reviews in journals and newspapers across the country and landing on several year-end lists of top books. It was named one of the 10 New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the year, and on November 13 it was featured in the regular children's book segment by Daniel Pinkwater and Scott Simon on National Public Radio's Morning Edition Saturday,a forum that has proven to have an impressive, immediate effect on sales (see Children's Books, Jan. 25). At 10 a.m. on November 13, when the NPR segment was just airing, I, Crocodile was number 13,332 in Amazon.com's sales rankings; by 11:15 a.m., the book had jumped to 229. And by midnight, it had reached its highest point, at 24. As of November 23, the book was hovering around 440.

Sales reps quickly saw the book's jump as well. John Zeck, a HarperCollins rep covering Colorado, remarked in his report of November 13, "Everyone is raving about the Daniel Pinkwater rave for I, Crocodile." He noted that in the three weeks prior to Pinkwater's appearance, Denver's Tattered Cover bookstore had sold a total of 23 copies of the book. But in the week that ended November 13, Zeck said the store sold 65 copies, and the title"was still building."

According to HarperCollins publicity manager Kim Bouchard, I, Crocodile hit store shelves with a first printing of 25,000. Two weeks before the National Public Radio segment, Anagnos was told that the book had been selected by Pinkwater and an air date was confirmed one week prior--a window of time that helped David Toberisky, head of inventory for HarperCollins, prevent an out-of-stock situation. Toberisky said that a second printing of 7500 copies will ship next week and that a third printing of 7500 copies is underway. In addition, Anagnos and others have received a flurry of e-mails and phone calls ever since the radio broadcast."This is our first Pinkwater book, and I'm amazed at the effect it's had," she remarked. From all indications, Marcellino's cocky croc would expect nothing less than this big splash.