The Best Children’s Books About Alligators: Reviewed and Ranked

Alligators are fascinating creatures, yet among the most misunderstood. And that’s a problem for both humans and alligators. 

When you don’t know what something is, it’s easy to fear it. And fear can lead to bad things, especially when the thing you don’t understand is also a predator (as alligators are).

Luckily, there are ways to help children learn about alligators before they grow up and become fearful adults—through books! With books, kids get a new perspective on the world; in this case, they’ll see a fantastic animal that has been around for millions of years.

The following children’s books about alligators will give your child an understanding of these incredible creatures.

A-Z Animals Top Picks for Children’s Books About Alligators

1. A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan (Author) and Tom Murphy (Illustrator)

A Girl and Her Gator is a magical book you should consider adding to your children’s library. The story revolves around a young girl named Claire who finds a gator called Pierre on her head one morning. The girl remains composed but unsure whether she wants the gator there. She is afraid that her friends will gossip about her and Pierre will ruin her style. But the gator assures her that she can do anything with him on her hair. 

Claire seems disturbed about what to wear with the gator up there, but again Pierre has a solution! He suggests she dresses like a pirate or in evening wear. So, how do you think her friends will react when she meets them with a gator on her head?

The book is an excellent choice for children between four and eight. Their imaginations will be stimulated as they explore all the possibilities Claire and Pierre have in store. This book is available in paperback and hardcover editions.

Pros and Cons of A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan (Author) and Tom Murphy (Illustrator)

A Girl and Her Gator

• Colorful illustrations
• An excellent choice for children between four and eight
• Stimulates children's imagination

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2. Gator by Randy Cecil

Gator is an excellent picture book for your children. Randy Cecil — the author and illustrator — portrays the following exciting experience for a gator to be a carousel animal: the laughter, collapse music, and flashing lights.

But with time, the number of people visiting the amusement park decreases until none go. Thus, the book depicts a gator leaving his everyday life and setting off on an extraordinary journey through some deep dark woods to discover a place where real alligators live. 

A modest carousel alligator searching for happiness becomes a hero by the end of this moving book. This book is available in paperback and hardcover editions.

Pros and Cons of Gator by Randy Cecil

Gator

• Picture book style
• Author illustrated
• Suitable for children ages 3-7 years

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3. Alligators All Around: An Alphabet by Maurice Sendak

Alligators All Around is the first board book publication of Maurice Sendak’s original masterpiece, together with the other three iconic Nutshell Library books (Chicken Soup with Rice, One Was Johnny, and Pierre). Children often find it much easier to share these huge board books with their adult readers.

For more than 50 years, this book has made learning the alphabet entertaining. The artwork and comedy of Maurice Sendak combine to provide an alphabet book that is simply captivating. If you have a young child looking to learn their ABC’s with fun pictures and entertaining stories around each letter, this is a great choice!

Unfortunately, some reviewers reported that the narrative was not as strong as they had hoped it would be.

Pros and Cons of Alligators All Around: An Alphabet by Maurice Sendak

Alligators All Around Board Book: An Alphabet

• Stunning artwork
• Entertaining stories
• Makes learning the alphabet fun and easy

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4. Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever (Probably) by Julie Falatko (Author) and Tim J. Miller (Illustrator)

In this book, the chicken narrator has one primary motive—to become Snappsy’s best friend forever. The chicken already believes they’re great friends. According to the narrator, their relationship began at a party, and they now do everything together.

It is evident from the illustrations that the chicken never left Snappsy’s house after attending his party the week before, and Snappsy confirms the fact in a hysterical outburst. Despite Snappsy’s best efforts, he cannot overcome the chicken’s worldview. We see him trying to insist on running some errands in town alone, but the chicken isn’t scared off. They’re going to shop together for another party. 

Surprisingly, they have some matching outfits (shirts), “Snappsy” and “Bert,” which now brings a profound exchange. While Snappsy complains that Bert never told him her name, Bert insists that he didn’t ask. This book teaches children an important message that friends can come in all shapes and sizes. It is available in Kindle, hardcover, and paperback formats.

Pros and Cons of Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever (Probably) by Julie Falatko (Author) and Tim J. Miller (Illustrator)

Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever (Probably)

• Follow-up to the critically-acclaimed Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book)
• Illustrated picture book
• Suitable for children ages 4-8 years

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5. Gator, Gator, Gator! by Daniel Bernstrom (Author) and Frann Preston-Gannon (Illustrator)

An anonymous child opens the poetic book by asking readers direct questions. According to Granny, there is a gator in the area, wider than a school bus, with a hot temper and skin like nails.

Throughout the story, a young girl is shown viewing nature with other children trying to spot the gator, challenging young readers to guess the animal before a binocular view reveals its identity.

Preston-Gannon uses bold colors, especially blues and greens, on a full-page spread to draw young readers’ attention and encourage discussion.

However, this book is only availabe as a hardcover which may be a little pricy for some people.

Pros and Cons of Gator, Gator, Gator! by Daniel Bernstrom (Author) and Frann Preston-Gannon (Illustrator)

Gator, Gator, Gator!

• Stunning illustrations
• A Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year
• Suitable for children ages 4-8 years

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6. Andy Alligator by Sarah Albee (Author) and Jo Brown (Illustrator)

The story features Andy Alligator’s snappy-jawed personality and a typical day in his life. Your children can move Andy’s jaws using a finger lever in the book.

Andy Alligator is a perfect book to quickly introduce your child to a unique animal. It shows how alligators and their friends use great sounds to make music.

In this book, kids learn the importance of being themselves and respecting others’ differences without becoming too preachy or moralistic. It also shows how important it is for kids to find their passions in life instead of just doing what everyone else does because they think it will make them famous.

Unfortunately, some customers reported that thy received a damaged book.

Pros and Cons of Andy Alligator by Sarah Albee (Author) and Jo Brown (Illustrator)

Andy Alligator

• A sturdy board book
• Includes a finger lever that children can use to snap Andy's jaws up and down
• Suitable for children ages 1-3 years

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7. Gator Gumbo by Candace Fleming (Author) and Sally Anne Lambert (Illustrator)

Monsieur Gator can’t catch a taste of critter because of his old age. As he silently suffers the teasing by his three friends, he decides to prepare Maman’s gumbo. So, he asks them to help him in:

These friends aren’t ready to help the poor gator, but they won’t hesitate when the eating time comes. They beg to have a taste, and this is where Monsieur Gator tricks them into the pot. In addition to providing visual puns, the gator dresses the animals in trousers and caps. What are the gator’s intentions toward his friends? This book is suitable for children aged between five and six years old and is available as a hardcover.

Pros and Cons of Gator Gumbo by Candace Fleming (Author) and Sally Anne Lambert (Illustrator)

Gator Gumbo: A Spicy-Hot Tale

• Whimsical illustrations
• Available in hardcover
• Suitable for children ages 4-8 years

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8. The Alligator’s Tooth by Sherry Keith

This is another excellent book for children. The illustrations are simple and colorful, perfect for young children. The language is simple enough for them to understand, but it also has a touch of sophistication that will make the book appeal to older readers.

The stories are also short, easy to follow, and remember. This can be helpful if you want your child to learn some of the stories by heart or enjoy reading them on her own without needing too much guidance.

Pros and Cons of The Alligator’s Tooth by Sherry Keith

The Alligator's Tooth

• Simple and colorful illustrations
• Collection of short stories 
• Suitable for children ages 8-12 years

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9. The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Mary Ann Hoberman (Author) and Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator)

This is a perfect sing-along storybook written by Laureate Mary Ann Hoberman and illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott. In bright, eye-catching illustrations, the author presents stories, games, and songs with a melody and funny lyrics.

The book is a story about Miss Lucy who had a baby boy named Tiny Tim. She puts the boy in the bath tab to see whether he will swim. With its joyful cast of characters, this rhyme is a delight to read. 

The lady’s purse resembles an alligator, and its back opens up to release pizza. The other characters in the book include the silly doctor, the nurse, and Tim, who tries to swallow a bathtub. The book is a great choice for children aged up to three years old.

Unfortunately, some customers reported that they received a damaged book.

Pros and Cons of The Lady with the Alligator Purse by Mary Ann Hoberman (Author) and Nadine Bernard Westcott (Illustrator)

The Lady with the Alligator Purse

• Board picture book
• Fun illustrations
• Suitable for children ages 1-4 years

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Choosing the Best: What to Look For

There are a few things to consider when choosing a book about alligators for the child in your life. The most important thing to consider is the reading age of the child. Younger children may struggle with big words or books with a lot of text. Therefore, a fun story book or a board book with a lot of pictures may8 be most appropriate. However, older children may be interested in learning more scientific facts about alligators, so a book with more complex words may be more suitable.

The Different Types of Books About Alligators

There are several different types of children’s books about alligators available. These include:

• Board Books: These typically have pull tabs or other interactive features. They are made for babies and toddlers, as well as some early readers. They can be story-based or have fun facts about alligators. They also usually have a lot of pictures so that they are visually engaging for children.
• Scientific Books: Many scientific books about alligators are geared towards informing the reader about the animal with numerous fascinating facts. One of the best ways to learn about alligators is to examine their key features, which is easy to do in these guides.
• Coloring Books: Coloring books can let your child exercise their creative side and engage in learning in a different way.
• Story Books: These tell a story, either imagined or true, about characters. Alligators make fun characters because they are so distinctive and kids like to see them in silly situations. In stories, alligators can interact with other animals, such as other reptiles, fish, or turtles in their environments.