Crictor

A retired schoolteacher receives a baby boa constrictor as a birthday gift from her son in Brazil and raises him in her French village, where he grows up to become a hero.

For the kid who begs for a pet snake, Crictor makes room for a friendship nobody in the village expects to matter so much.

• Big idea: An unlikely companion can become a beloved part of a community, once given the chance.
• Vibes: Gentle, quirky, warmhearted, with a dash of old-fashioned French village charm.

• enjoy stories about unusual animal friendships
• are working on welcoming those who seem different
• like to imagine having an exotic pet of their own
• respond well to cozy, old-fashioned storytelling

• Story & problem-solving: How do you think Madame Bodot felt when she opened the box and found a baby boa constrictor inside?
• Feelings & empathy: Why do you think the villagers grew to love Crictor even though he's a snake?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever gotten a surprise gift that turned out better than you expected?
• Imagination: If you had a pet snake like Crictor, what would you want to teach him to do?
• Story & problem-solving: What do you think it means that Crictor became a hero in the village?