María Eugenia Manrique

I read this before passing it on to my nephew for his children. I will never be too old to read an illustrated children's story. :)

When the author was a child and visiting family in San Fernando de Apure, Venezula, she would visit the home of a famous local jeweler named José Faoro, who raised a river caiman from the time it was three days old. He had built it a pool in his backyard, and the children would visit and ride on "Night". This delightful story has bold illustrations and an afterward that includes photos of the author with the caiman, as well as José Faoro.