Parents' Guide to

Alligators All Around

By Peter Lewis, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 2+

Alligators take readers through the ABCs.

Book Maurice Sendak Alphabet 1969
Alligators All Around Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

F is for fooling. G is for giggles. In this primer a family of alligators take readers through the ABCs. Maurice Sendak's little book is charming, and even though it's dated, it conveys the warmth and humor little ones desire always.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The words are fun and effective and the illustrations are charming, but they may seem simplistic to today's audience. They're done in black and white with a few colors added, a printing style common in the early '60s. The expressions, however, are right as rain. In the illustration accompanying "never napping," the young alligator has rings under the eyes and a deep slouch to the shoulders; in the art that goes with "having headaches," the two adult alligators are lying in bed with damp cloths over their eyes.

Maurice Sendak has a way of blending the everyday with the bizarre, extending the possibilities of life. These alligators may be throwing tantrums and acting spoiled and fooling around, but they are also riding reindeer and entertaining elephants. The discontinuities penetrate, and in the process so do the letters.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the letters of the alphabet. Find items around your home that begin with each letter. Kids might want to make their own alphabet primer using pictures cut from magazines or their own drawings.

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate