Alligators All Around
By Maurice Sendak
The Story
An alligator family romps through the alphabet from A to Z, entertaining elephants, imitating ice cream, and throwing tantrums along the way in one letter-by-letter jamboree.
Why It's Special
For the kid who's starting to notice letters everywhere, this turns the alphabet into a rowdy family romp instead of a lesson.
- Big idea: Learning your letters can be as silly and chaotic as an actual family — every letter gets its own burst of personality.
- Vibes: Playful, wry, a little wild, dryly funny in that particular Sendak way.
Perfect For Kids Who
- are working on learning the alphabet
- enjoy silly, offbeat humor
- love looking closely at detailed illustrations
- like to chant or recite along
Ask Your Little Reader
- Letter recognition: Can you find the letter that starts your name in the alligators' alphabet?
- Imagination: If you were an alligator entertaining an elephant, what tricks would you do?
- Story & noticing details: Which alligator in the pictures looks the silliest to you, and why?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever thrown a tantrum like the alligators do? What happened?
- Wordplay: What's a funny word you can think of that starts with your favorite letter?
