What would you do if you were out for a walk and an alligator crossed your path? Pretty frightening right!? In their new picture book AAALLIGATOR! Judith Henderson and Andrea Stegmaier explore just what could happen when a child crosses paths with an alligator.

This book is perfectly designed for a group read aloud. It reads like a folktale with many places to stop and wonder about what will happen next. The story draws in the reader and leaves them hanging on the edge of their seats. It’s just fantastical enough to be somewhat believable and will jump start the imaginations of its readers. I love that Judith Henderson created an alligator lullaby in the story adding another layer of interest to the story and another way to draw in readers, especially if they are listening to the story as a read aloud. 

The illustrations by Andrea Stegmaier are big and bold, once again adding to the group read feel of the story. There are big two page spreads and bold outlines drawing the eye to the most important elements on each page. When you are done reading the book aloud, readers will also enjoy reading on their own and exploring the detailed illustrations as they go through the story. AAALIGATOR! is a fantastic story for new readers to read through the pictures.

AAALIGATOR! Is a lovely addition to the host of fairytales available to young readers.