Snip Snap! What's That?
Three very imaginative children are attacked by a ferocious alligator in their high-rise apartment in this fun story. Each time the alligator approaches, the readers are asked, “Were the children scared?” YOU BET THEY WERE!, is the reply. Until the tables are turned and the kids boot that alligator back to where he came from(which turns out to be a manhole in the street—a nice touch on the old New York City urban legend about alligators in the sewer).
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Point out to your child that the book uses both lower and upper case letters in interesting ways to make the story more dramatic. Have your child point to the words in the book when they appear in all uppercase letters like the words "SNIP," "SNAP," or the phrase, "YOU BET THEY WERE!" Ask your child to point out other interesting ways the author used print in the book to make the story more interesting or dramatic.
Encourage the families to extend reading into play by role playing the book as a hide and seek game. Have the family members take turns being the "alligator" and "children." When the alligator finds the children, have the childrenshout, "ALLIGATOR, YOU GET OUT!"