When I Was an Alligator

A young girl introduces herself as “a curious Cajun kid” who is fond of peanut butter and crawfish. She quickly drifts off to sleep and transforms into an alligator. As she absorbs the sun’s rays, herons fly overhead, leading her to long for the ability to fly. In the blink of an eye, she becomes a heron in search of a tasty bite to eat, and as she soars across the sky, she spots an opossum scurrying off to her nest of little ones. She then changes into an opossum with babies of her own. As her dream progresses, she transfigures into a catfish swimming in a pond and a beautiful white-tailed deer protecting her fawns. She continues to convert into an array of creative manifestations of her mind until she wakes to find herself just a Cajun kid again.

Children will love this imaginative tale. They will lavish in its predictability and will look forward to seeing what transformation awaits them next. Youth often find animals intriguing, so this story is likely to awaken their curiosity and sequester their attention. The lively illustrations will appeal to their senses. They’re not vivid in color but display earthy tones and subtle hues. Life amidst the light green, brown, tan, and reddish tones is forever changing, evolving into something new.

The target audience for this engaging story is children ages four through eight, and the reading level is approximately second or third grade. It will undoubtedly be read and read again by those who cherish it most.