If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don't!

by Elise Parsley

Overview

The first hilarious story in the New York Times bestselling Magnolia Says DON'T! series about a charismatic kid who's got a terrific knack for terrible ideas!

Note to self: If your teacher tells you to bring something from nature for show-and-tell, she does not want you to bring an alligator! But nothing will stop Magnolia, who's determined to have the best show-and-tell of all—until her reptilian rapscallion starts getting her into some major trouble. Now it's up to Magnolia to find a way to send this troublemaker home. But what could possibly scare an alligator away?

Don't miss the other Magnolia books:
If You Ever Want to Bring a Pirate to Meet Santa, Don't!
If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don't!
If You Ever Want to Bring a Piano to the Beach, Don't!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316573696
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	06/11/2024
Series:	Magnolia Says DON'T! Series , #1
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	336,257
Product dimensions:	9.05(w) x 11.80(h) x 0.16(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Elise Parsley has written and illustrated the New York Times bestseller If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, DON'T! and three other stories about Magnolia, as well as It's Tummy Time!, How to Catch a Clover Thief, and Neck & Neck. She also illustrated The Magic Word by Mac Barnett. Elise and her family live in South Dakota, and she invites you to visit her website at eliseparsley.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for If You Ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don't!:
A 2018-2019 California Young Reader Medal Nominee

"Parsley's digitally created illustrations brim with energy and just-edgy-enough humor... and the well-chosen school-day details in both the artwork and text... deliver a steady stream of laughs."—Publishers Weekly

"Elise Parsley's jaunty second-person narration is matched by comically expressive...artwork that seems to shout from the page."—Wall Street Journal

"Children are likely to get a kick out of Magnolia's not-quite-contrite tone and the colorful chaos her giant pet creates."—New York Times

"This is an engaging debut picture book [that] will appeal to a wide age range. Here's hoping for more adventures with Magnolia!"—School Library Journal

"Vibrant, imaginative, and spot-on funny."—Boing Boing

From the Publisher

Some adults may find it too familiar, but children are likely to get a kick out of Magnolia's not-quite-contrite tone and the colorful chaos her giant pet creates.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

05/25/2015
A shaggy-haired, moon-faced girl named Magnolia morphs from smug to seething in Parsley’s debut, a cautionary tale about the risks of bringing an alligator to school. In second-person narration à la If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Magnolia explains how to defuse an unhappy teacher (“You’ll tell her that it’s okay and that you know all about alligators. The alligator will be good and quiet and he won’t eat anyone—cross your heart”), but the gator’s mischievous tendencies test the girl’s patience and threaten to land her in the principal’s office. (Eventually, Magnolia’s name ends up written on the classroom chalkboard with three checkmarks next to it “and an underline”!) Parsley’s digitally created illustrations brim with energy and just-edgy-enough humor (during math, a classmate is blissfully unaware how close he is to becoming the alligator’s next meal), and the well-chosen school-day details in both the artwork and text (“By now, of course, you’ll wish you brought a hollow stick or a bird’s nest or some sparkly rocks for show-and-tell”) deliver a steady stream of laughs. Ages 3–6. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (July)

Publishers Weekly

07/01/2015
K-Gr 2—Is Magnolia a rebel or natural leader? Readers will need to decide when this young avant-garde student brings an alligator to school for show and tell. In second person narration, readers are warned against bringing an alligator to school, as the text and illustrations use Magnolia and her mischievious alligator as examples of the havoc that such a creature can bring to a classroom setting. After the alligator chews gum in class, tries to eat a student, and shows funny pictures during the teacher's lesson, he is finally introduced during show and tell. When Magnolia reveals a surprising fact about alligators (they are only afraid of other alligators—and humans!), the troublesome creature makes a run for it. Magnolia, could be the sister of David, from David Shannon's picture book series, with her large round head, wide mouth, and wiry hair. Magnolia is as busy as the alligator and just as prone to tomfoolery. The endpapers continue the goofy fun. VERDICT This is an engaging debut picture book written in free verse will appeal to a wide age range. Here's hoping for more adventures with Magnolia!—Gwen Collier, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

2015-10-06
Magnolia learns the hard way that an alligator is not a great item to bring for show and tell, and she wants readers to learn from her experience. While Magnolia's struggles with the alligator and his rambunctious behavior will be funny to kids, it's adults who have dealt with similar behavior from their own young charges who will chuckle loudest. First, the alligator makes Magnolia laugh during spelling by showing her the funny picture he's drawn. Her name goes on the board: last in line at lunch. She takes his crayons away. Then his origami paper airplane goes astray during art. The check next to Magnolia's name means no recess. She takes away the paper. Some gum distracts him from eating a classmate...but makes a mess nonetheless—two more checks and an underline mean a trip to the principal's office. Magnolia may be down, but she's not out: she has a trick up her sleeve that just might turn her day around. Or not. Parsley's digital illustrations are a riot, Magnolia's smug expression gradually changing to chagrin, anger, and outright terror as the alligator continues his shenanigans, none worse than what a toddler dishes out on a regular basis. Readers will certainly agree that alligators do not belong at school, and parents, if they are far enough removed from them, will fondly remember the days of their own children's mischief. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews