Alligator Boy

                                                           by Cynthia Rylant and Diane Goode
                                                                         New York:  Harcourt (2007)

As children go through school, they can struggle with hard questions:  Do I fit in?  Will I make friends?   What if I like something that no one else does?  Rylant and Goode cleverly address these identity issues in Alligator Boy by describing a young boy who, as the inside of the dust jacket reads, "is tired of being a boy. He wants to be somebody new...."  The story tells of his decision to instead be an alligator!  He goes to school, makes friends, does homework and classroom chores, and even learns how to fight off bullies.

Disguised as a tale about an alligator boy, this book can teach children the values of being true to yourself and accepting those around you regardless of different interests or backgrounds.  The illustrations throughout the story depict the alligator boy enjoying school and playing with his friends, showing that even though he is different from people around him, they still accept and love him.  A good book to discuss with children about non-conformity, Alligator Boy is a story with a limited plot but a very important lesson.