![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_cd69b4347f620bf156517c6c3c8488b6.jpg/v1/fill/w_97,h_83,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/d446e4_cd69b4347f620bf156517c6c3c8488b6.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_db02b1a0026543bc885f1ac7dbd820eb.jpg/v1/fill/w_306,h_395,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/d446e4_db02b1a0026543bc885f1ac7dbd820eb.jpg)
ERNST
Dutton Children's Books, 1989
Reissued by Tricycle Press in 2002
A young crocodile with a vivid imagination wonders "what if"
as he contemplates our world, and celebrates a birthday.
________________
"What child or poet or artist could resist a story that starts 'Once upon a time, in a world full of light, trees, bugs, seashells, birds, and night..."? Busy little pictures sparkle, producing enchanted satisfaction....Older pre-schoolers, particularly imaginative children, will love this book."
-- School Library Journal
"Kleven imagines an entire universe filled with sparkling pictures and sweet affection. This small and beautiful book neatly reconciles the child's wishes with dreams fulfilled."
-- Los Angeles Times
Ernst in Korean, Japanese and Chinese
ERNST is also available from Amazon in an English and Spanish edition, published by Bab'l Books.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_5c46d47b709e45f1ab3edb36110a1083.jpg/v1/crop/x_15,y_19,w_161,h_202/fill/w_225,h_282,al_c,lg_1,q_80,enc_auto/d446e4_5c46d47b709e45f1ab3edb36110a1083.jpg)
Plush Ernst toy by Kathe Kruse, available through The Play Store
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_643deb5e6e784e2ca02f6153ec5a2d5f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_100,h_100,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/d446e4_643deb5e6e784e2ca02f6153ec5a2d5f~mv2.jpg)
An unusual tribute to Ernst: a tattoo worn by Caitlyn Post, who kindly wrote "Thank you for creating a character my weird little childhood self loved so much I had to get a tattoo of him twenty-something years later. Ernst has and will always have a special place in my heart (and now, my skin as well) for his endless questions and fantastic imaginings, and I am so grateful for you bringing him to life and sharing him with the world."
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_ee9375608b534a77877e24242be20fc9~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_30,w_234,h_265/fill/w_83,h_94,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/d446e4_ee9375608b534a77877e24242be20fc9~mv2.jpg)
And here is one more Ernst tattoo. It's always a great surprise and honor to see my book characters connecting with the lives and imaginations of readers.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_1ee8079b6fad4aca816997586425b688.jpg/v1/fill/w_319,h_232,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/d446e4_1ee8079b6fad4aca816997586425b688.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_bbb5655acfbd41cfb85b2145e3cd4560.jpg/v1/fill/w_217,h_277,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/d446e4_bbb5655acfbd41cfb85b2145e3cd4560.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_215062ba637143b482b29685ef9e6424.jpg/v1/fill/w_347,h_240,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/d446e4_215062ba637143b482b29685ef9e6424.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_50122b0efe864152b30a0dec63da681f.jpeg/v1/fill/w_78,h_78,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/d446e4_50122b0efe864152b30a0dec63da681f.jpeg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_257bb39d193b49b78a9323498ecc3d61.jpeg/v1/fill/w_77,h_52,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/d446e4_257bb39d193b49b78a9323498ecc3d61.jpeg)
Here are two quilts based on the same title page image from ERNST, created by mother-daughter quilters Halli Kenoyer and Aairyn Maxwell
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d446e4_a1c033533f6d4db2a60de17f761f84a5.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_0,w_2413,h_3049/fill/w_56,h_71,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/d446e4_a1c033533f6d4db2a60de17f761f84a5.jpg)
The birthday-cake-Ernst was sent to me by the mother of,a little boy who had made friends with the character.