Children's books often tell stories about animals in unusual environments, intentionally humorous and imaginative. However, this story is true. A jazz musician brings home a small crocodile from his tour as a gift for his children. But Jakob grows. Eventually, the father sets up an entire room as a jungle. School classes come to marvel at the animal. The couple continues to live with the unusual pet even after the children move out. Jakob lives to be 42 years old, quite old for a crocodile in our regions.

The illustrations depict a family apartment today. Yet, Claudia de Weck does not present the true story from the Zurich area as a local episode, but rather as an incredible yet relatable event. An appendix explains zoological aspects in a factual ABC, and the afterword by Georg Kohler encourages reflection on the ethical questions surrounding pet ownership.