about the book
Crocodile loves watermelon. Ever since he was a baby croc, he has devoured the juicy fruit every chance he gets.
He chomps on watermelons for breakfast. He chomps on watermelons for lunch. He chomps on watermelons for dinner. He chomps on watermelons for dessert.
CHOMP…CHOMP…CHOMP…GULP! Oh no! Crocodile swallowed a watermelon seed!
Oh gosh! What a catastrophe! Will his tummy grow big and round? Will his skin turn watermelon pink? Will vines sprout out of his ears? Crocodile frets…agonizes… panics!
Could he actually turn into a watermelon?
about the author
Greg Pizzoli is an author, an artist, and a screen printer. He earned a bachelor’s in literature and studio arts from Millersville University in 2005, and for two years he was a full-time volunteer for AmeriCORPS. In 2009, he earned a master’s in book arts and printmaking from Philadelphia’s University of the Arts.
Like most graduate students, he ended his college career in major debt, over $80,000!
For the next two years he struggled, answering phones at an office. His kind bosses at the company let him leave early one day a week to teach a screenprinting class in continuing ed.
At his very first class, Greg had each of his students introduce themselves and tell what they did. One student, Brian Biggs, said he was a children’s book illustrator. Greg just rolled his eyes in disbelief. But when he googled Brian, Greg found out his student WAS a big deal illustrator!
Here was a person who did exactly what Greg dreamed of doing; and Greg had Brian in a class for ten whole weeks. In the end Greg taught Brian all he knew about screenprinting, and Brian taught Greg all sorts of things about writing and illustrating books and making a living at it.
The Watermelon Seed is Greg’s first book— and it won the 2014 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for beginning readers! He calls his character “Kroc,” but his editor referred to him as “The Krocster.” Boy, says Greg, Kroc really hates that! His next book, Number One Sam, will hit store shelves in the summer of 2014.
Greg still lives in Philly. He has a silkscreen shop in his studio and still teaches classes at The University of the Arts. His prints have been exhibited in the US, Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands, and his hand-printed artist books are in collections throughout the U.S., including the Rare Book section in his hometown library!
Sources:
Author interview: Design of the Picture Book
Author interview: Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Also by Greg Pizzoli:
Number One Same. Disney-Hyperion. 2014.
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