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EGAD ALLIGATOR! by Harriet Ziefert

EGAD ALLIGATOR!

by Harriet Ziefert & illustrated by Todd McKie

Pub Date: March 25th, 2002
ISBN: 0-618-14171-5
Publisher: Walter Lorraine/Houghton Mifflin

Little Gator doesn’t feel tired, so he decides to go exploring instead of taking a nap. But how can he hope to make any friends when the mere sight of him sends people running and shouting, “Egad Alligator!” Little Gator tries to befriend some people by asking them about the fishing conditions, but they quickly run away. Spying a picnic, he decides to try some potato chips, but someone shoots an arrow at him and he is soon running for his life. After several failed attempts at making friends with some herons and some people playing a softball game, he finds that he’s lost. Coming to a log, Little Gator decides to take a nap before trying to find his way home, but the round, bumpy thing floating in the water isn’t a log—it’s a python. “Egad Python!” shouts Little Gator. He swims hard for home and finds his brother just waking from his nap. “Wanna go exploring?” his brother asks. Paintings comprised of simple yet bold strokes of color depict Little Gator and his adventures perfectly. Children will delight in the drawings as they see their own techniques mirrored in the creation of faces and the crooked placement of features. A wonderful addition to any collection. (Picture book. 2-5)