The Legend of the Ferocious Crocagator

Lettie Cronin is a 30-year-old entomologist who grew up with dirt under her nails, bugs in her pockets, and stories tucked into every corner of her childhood. Most people know her as the Bug Lady, a title she wears proudly after years of studying insects and teaching kids to see the magic in the tiniest creatures. But long before she knew the names of beetles or the lifecycle of mosquitoes, Lettie was listening to her dad tell wild and wonderful bedtime stories. One of her favorites was the tale of the Crocagator, a mysterious creature equal parts terrifying and hilarious. That story lived in her imagination for years, and now it lives on these pages. Lettie believes curiosity is its own kind of superpower. She sees science and storytelling as two sides of the same coin; both ways of asking questions, solving mysteries, and finding joy in the unexpected. Her work has taken her from classrooms to swamp walks, from backyard bug hunts to school assemblies, where she reminds kids that being curious is always cool. This book is her first as a children's author. It is a tribute to her dad's voice, her childhood wonder, and the belief that a good story can carry you anywhere. Lettie lives in Florida with her cat Beetle, who keeps an eye on the lizards, and a yard full of six-legged visitors who never RSVP.