The Underground Gators - Hardcover

Casey, Tina

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0525472134 ISBN 13: 9780525472131

Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2009

Synopsis

Legend has it that alligators live in the New York City sewers. But city life isn?t for everyone. Some of those alligators packed up and swam away in search of peace and quiet. Why, they could be living right under your feet. This explains a lot of things. Like what does the babysitter do after you go to bed? Alligators love to play Go Fish. And where do teachers go in the summer? Alligators know the value of a good education.

Uproariously funny illustrations and an author?s note about what?s really living in the NYC sewer system enhance this wry tale.

About this title

About the Author:

Tina Casey lives in Summit, New Jersey.

Lynn Munsinger is a bestselling illustrator of books, including Tacky the Penguin and Hooway for Wodney Wat, by Helen Lester. She divides her time between Connecticut and Vermont.

From School Library Journal:

Kindergarten-Grade 2—Casey pens a nonsensical tale in a humorous attempt to explain the urban legend of alligators in the NYC sewer system. The premise is promising, but the execution falls flat. The author begins by introducing the legend of the alligators, but states that no one has ever seen them. She goes on to pose some ridiculous explanations of why they must live there—New York has a plethora of hot-dog stands because alligators love hot dogs; the Brooklyn Bridge has cables so the creatures can dry their laundry. She then explains that not all alligators love city life; some of them have packed up and moved, maybe to your town. The author goes on to ask: How else do you explain why teachers take the summers off? Or why doughnuts have holes? (So alligators can carry them home on their tails.) Munsinger's illustrations are the only redeeming aspect of this story. The watercolor illustrations picture mischievous alligators up to no good. The center spread is delightful, showing alligators in a supermarket making a giant, glorious mess. However, the explanation of why they are there illustrates many of the book's flaws: "When you go to the supermarket, keep a sharp eye out for those alligators. They are usually in the cereal aisle, making forts." Why? The book concludes with an interesting explanation of the source of the urban legend.—Lisa Crandall, Capital Area District Library, Holt, MI
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About this edition

• Publisher: Dutton Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0525472134
• ISBN 13: 9780525472131
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Munsinger Lynn