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A Big Little Girl, Story Four: Seven and a Half Crocodile Smiles

Meet Zhenya, a “big little girl” in Maria Bershadskaya’s heartwarming series. In her family, she’s the youngest, even younger than their beloved dachshund, Vetka. Yet, her mom needs a stool just to braid her hair! Zhenya is, in many ways, just like any other seven-year-old girl. She dislikes being stared at or considered different. She can peel potatoes with incredibly thin skins and sew buttons almost as well as her dad. And she’s a fantastic storyteller because interesting things always seem to happen to her.

Seven and a Half Crocodile Smiles: Zhenya’s First Day of School

In this fourth installment, Seven and a Half Crocodile Smiles, Zhenya is finally starting first grade! She’s dreamed of wearing a big, beautiful bow, meeting a friendly teacher, and quickly becoming friends with her desk mate. But things don’t go as planned. A visit to the dentist leaves her without her signature “crocodile smiles,” and on the first day, she discovers that not just her desk, but the entire school feels TOO SMALL. What will she do? Maybe her best friend, Mishka, will come up with a solution…

Themes of Growing Up and Self-Acceptance

Maria Bershadskaya’s books about the “big little girl” explore Zhenya’s journey as she grows taller than the world’s tallest basketball player and the joys and challenges of being different. Throughout the twelve books in the series, Zhenya continues to grow and change. Her dad tells her that everyone, even adults, experiences “INTERNAL GROWTH.” Zhenya isn’t quite sure what that means. Does it involve walking in the rain? Singing songs? Eating something healthy but gross? We don’t know either, but perhaps by reading these twelve stories, we can grow a little too!

Perfect for Young Readers

Seven and a Half Crocodile Smiles is the fourth book in the Big Little Girl series. The first book, “How to Tame a City,” was named the best book of 2013 by Papmambook. This series is ideal for children aged 6-10 who are navigating the complexities of growing up, self-acceptance, and friendship. Explore the world of Zhenya and discover the magic of being uniquely you! Keywords: children’s books, growing up, self-esteem, friendship, first grade, Maria Bershadskaya, Big Little Girl, Russian literature, translated children’s books.

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