Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator!

Popular children's author and illustrator Mo Willems, a three-time Caldecott Honoree, presents 6 ½ stories in this engaging picture-book, which follows the ups and downs in the relationship between a young girl named Amanda, and Alligator, her stuffed eusuchian friend. Whether Amanda is bringing home a surprise for Alligator, or Alligator is plotting to return the favor, these two boon companions know how to have fun! When a third party, in the form of a fluffy stuffed panda won by Amanda's Grandpa at the zoo, enters the mix, it seems that there might be trouble ahead, until the two animals discover that they have more than just Amanda in common...

A cross between a chapter-book and a picture-book - or, more precisely, a longer show more picture-book with chapters - Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator is yet more proof that this author/artist really knows how to enter into the pre-school mindset. I loved that Amanda and Alligator have a relationship that is simultaneously loving and taunting - go get your thinking cap, and try again, Alligator! - as that felt very true-to-life to me, and also elicited a good chuckle. The artwork is pure Mo Willems, which is to say: not my personal favorite, from an aesthetic perspective, but perfectly suited to the story (and story audience) at hand. Any child with a special toy or doll will appreciate this story, especially if they've ever wondered what that companion got up to, when they weren't around. show less

I liked this book by Mo Willems. This book is different than the other books, it is a "chapter" book. Willems breaks this book down into chapters with the things that go on in alligators day. First he misses Amanda and wants her to bring him a surprise. Amanda's surprise to alligator was her scaring him. Alligator tried everything to get her back, but nothing worked. Finally alligator put his thinking cap on and got Amanda by tickling her. Then alligator had a price tag stuck on him and he was disappointed to find out he was only worth seven cents. Amanda made him feel better when she told him he was in the sale bucket waiting for her. One day, Amanda went out with her grandpa and she brought back another stuffed animal friend, panda. show more Alligator did not like him at first but then they developed a friendship and they were inseparable. show less

I had never heard of Mo Willems before this class, but now I would say he is one of my favorite authors.

This book is about Amanda and her Alligator. When she brings home a new friend, Alligator has to learn how to not be selfish and share his friend with the other toys. In the end, Panda and Alligator end up becoming friends and Alligator realizes that it is fun to have more than one friend.

Normally Mo is brilliant. Stunningly brilliant... but this book is only sort-of brilliant. It offers 6 stories about Amanda and her Alligator. They all have some good messages - like books are good, and friends should always tell friends the truth - but they don't have the appeal of the Pigeon and Piggie-and-Elephant books.

For one thing, while Alligator is cute, he just doesn't share Pigeon's sassiness, nor Piggie's goofy, happy nature. And maybe it's just me, but Amanda's lacking something. It's almost as if she's just there as a backdrop. She's not someone my kids could relate to.

I think if you go forward without sky-high expectations you'll enjoy this book. But if you are expecting another 'Knuffle Bunny, you are going to be show more disappointed.

Pam T~
mom/blogger
booksforkids-reviews show less

This is a sweet story between Amanda and her Alligator and eventually alligator and panda. The story is divided into chapters or short stories which felt kind of unnecessary to me. I found myself wondering if the breaks served some other purpose that I just wasn't seeing. I loved the different books that Amanda read throughout the course of the story and appreciated the crayony aspects of the art style and it's general simplicity.

This is a sweet story between Amanda and her Alligator and eventually alligator and panda. The story is divided into chapters or short stories which felt kind of unnecessary to me. I found myself wondering if the breaks served some other purpose that I just wasn't seeing. I loved the different books that Amanda read throughout the course of the story and appreciated the crayony aspects of the art style and it's general simplicity.

In "Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator!" Willems seems to be sparking the theme of imagination. Imagination and creativity in children's books is something that is very important to me. In each of his books, he uses either animals, or a mix of humans and animals to portray the stories and lessons. "Hooray for Amanda & Her Alligator!" has a table of contents and six short chapters that divides the story into parts. In each part is a tale of the adventures of Amanda and her stuffed alligator at home. Children are guaranteed to love these stories because they're filled with emphasis and lots of personality.