Doris' Dear Delinquents - by Emma Ward (Hardcover)

About the Book

Doris the gharial crocodile has her motherly hands full with twenty-six misbehaved hatchlings. Follow along on a journey through the alphabet as she tries to bring peace back into her home.

Book Synopsis

Silver medal winner of the 2020 Key Colors Illustrators Competition!

"An alphabet book with just the right amount of toothy mayhem." - Publishers Weekly

Doris the gharial crocodile has her motherly hands full with twenty-six misbehaved hatchlings. Follow along on a journey through the alphabet as she tries to bring peace back into her home.

An amusing book about a crocodile and her cheeky hatchlings, whose names all start with a specific letter of the alphabet. For readers who know their ABCs ages 4 years and up.

Key Colors is Clavis' biennial contest for picture book creators. Held in international markets since 1996, the first US edition was inaugurated in 2020. Only a children's book, intended for ages 2-7, can qualify for the award. A professional jury evaluates the artistic, literary, and child-oriented qualities of the works with the winner receiving a monetary prize in addition to being published by Clavis. For many illustrators, this unique award is the start of a successful international career.

Review Quotes

Silver medal winner of the 2020 Key Colors Illustrators Competition!

"Newcomer Ward sets the stage with a single, inviting sentence: "One fine day in her modest little home on the river, Doris the Gharial crocodile became the proud mother of 26 hatchlings." Ward's portrait of Doris reveals a toothy snout; glittery golden eyes; and a possibly menacing look that's tempered by a modest gray dress with a lace collar and a flowered sun hat. Her baby crocodiles crawl all over her, and their misdeeds as "they became harder to look after" are gleefully cataloged in abecedarian form, with their names and their actions starting with the appropriate letter: "Avery ate the goldfish" attends an illustration of a fish trapped lightly between the besweatered youth's teeth. "Bella bit mom" show's the child gnawing on one of Doris's clawed fingers. The misdeeds are short and punchy ("Ivy said 'Icky!' ") and true to life ("Lucas lacked his clothes"). Ward works in a subtle, grayed-out palette that, along with the repeating forms of the crocodiles, gives the spreads a restrained elegance. An alphabet book with just the right amount of toothy mayhem." - Publishers Weekly

"This is a very cute, gorgeously illustrated abecedarius narrative, and it's got just the right blend of earnestness and humor, to my mind. I did think the end was slightly abrupt, but it's still a fabulous read for little ones and those who might need to read to them." - Page 1 Books

"This is a fun ABC book for children. Not all of the letters/baby alligators are given something interesting, but the book is very good with excellent illustrations too." - Fort York Library

"Doris' Dear Delinquents is a book about a huge family of crocodiles who get up to no good. This book was so unbelievably cute. The illustrations were amazing, they made this book what it is. Lucas was my favorite. Also, it's a great way to help teach kids the alphabet. I totally recommend this book." - Gilbert Public Schools

About the Author

Emma Ward is a student in the Digital Media Program at the Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, MI. She's delighted and fascinated by animals, and has a particular love for all things cold-blooded, which led to this, her first children's book, and finalist in Clavis Publishing's Key Colors Competition. Emma will graduate in May of 2021, and is looking to have an impact in the movie and video game industry as a character designer. She pulls inspiration from the interesting shapes and behaviors of unusual wildlife, is fascinated by creature lore, and specializes in making creepy things lovable!