What do you think?
A Girl and Her Gator
One day, a girl discovers an alligator on her head and, although she is afraid her friends will laugh, the 'gator soon convinces her that she can still give her brother a scare, eat an eclair, and choose anything to wear as long as he is there. 50,000 first printing.
36 pages, Hardcover
First published April 3, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 27, 2021
A sweet and silly story without any real point but very enjoyable. A little girl and her gator in her hair. The art is simple yet adorable.
July 28, 2010
Ahhh! A sequel. Oh my word! How perfect. I saw this in my co-workers pile of books for storytime. So we read it together. And it was fabulously hilarious. So glad the kids will get the sequel.
2/13/13 & 2/14/13: Part of the "Odd Friends" valentine-ish theme. Can't believe I haven't read this one, yet. Very fun though, and the kids loved seeing the gator on her head. With "May I bring a friend" before this, "5 little monkeys" was a perfect song in between the two. And I was easily able to tell them the French for "Au Contraire!" They loved the ending with the bear.
6/10/15 Used in friends theme. Kids definitely enjoyed. I paused a the clothing for them to tell me what they thought she should wear.
8/7/17 Grabbed this for Movement storytime. Tiny crowd. And a bit young for this. But the adults smiles.
2/13/13 & 2/14/13: Part of the "Odd Friends" valentine-ish theme. Can't believe I haven't read this one, yet. Very fun though, and the kids loved seeing the gator on her head. With "May I bring a friend" before this, "5 little monkeys" was a perfect song in between the two. And I was easily able to tell them the French for "Au Contraire!" They loved the ending with the bear.
6/10/15 Used in friends theme. Kids definitely enjoyed. I paused a the clothing for them to tell me what they thought she should wear.
8/7/17 Grabbed this for Movement storytime. Tiny crowd. And a bit young for this. But the adults smiles.
May 3, 2019
Unexpected fun one!
September 2, 2016
Cute, and witty, and most likely funny to the young child who discovers this book. A girl awakes to find a gator on her head. The following pages contain rhymes that explain the beauty of a gator to the girl who has one on her head.
January 15, 2020
A weird and wonderful tale about a girl with an alligator on her head.
August 6, 2011
A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan, illustrated by Thomas Murphy is another book I wish I'd found sooner. It looks like a sure fire read-aloud storytime hit.
Claire — the sister of the “boy who one day woke up with a bunny on his head” — discovers that she too has a strange new condition: When she looks in the mirror, there is a gator in her hair! What is she to do? Will she learn to enjoy her new friend?
This very silly rhyming book features a French alligator (or perhaps Pierre is both Cajun and cagey) and a spunky heroine. Claire quickly asks the key question: "What should a girl wear with a gator up there?" and explores the possibilities, discovering that she will "always look pretty" and "always have flair ... with the gator up there." I love the line when Pierre declares "These views are amazing, and I love the fresh air!"
The illustrations featuring pink and green are great. I especially enjoyed the one where Claire discovers the alligator on her head as she begins to brush her teeth, the gator and Claire in the bathtub, and Claire's clothing spread out all over the floor. The illustrations are large enough to make this a great story time or read aloud choice.
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There is a prequel A Boy and His Bunny and a sequel called A Bear and His Boy. This also reminds me of Imogene's Antlers, A Bad Case of Stripes and Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator. So many books, so little time!
For ages 2 to 6, alligators, rhyming, surprises, differences, humor, and acceptance, and fans of Sean Bryan and Thomas Murphy.
Claire — the sister of the “boy who one day woke up with a bunny on his head” — discovers that she too has a strange new condition: When she looks in the mirror, there is a gator in her hair! What is she to do? Will she learn to enjoy her new friend?
This very silly rhyming book features a French alligator (or perhaps Pierre is both Cajun and cagey) and a spunky heroine. Claire quickly asks the key question: "What should a girl wear with a gator up there?" and explores the possibilities, discovering that she will "always look pretty" and "always have flair ... with the gator up there." I love the line when Pierre declares "These views are amazing, and I love the fresh air!"
The illustrations featuring pink and green are great. I especially enjoyed the one where Claire discovers the alligator on her head as she begins to brush her teeth, the gator and Claire in the bathtub, and Claire's clothing spread out all over the floor. The illustrations are large enough to make this a great story time or read aloud choice.
.
There is a prequel A Boy and His Bunny and a sequel called A Bear and His Boy. This also reminds me of Imogene's Antlers, A Bad Case of Stripes and Hooray for Amanda and Her Alligator. So many books, so little time!
For ages 2 to 6, alligators, rhyming, surprises, differences, humor, and acceptance, and fans of Sean Bryan and Thomas Murphy.
October 8, 2012
This story is simply delightful in every aspect. The illustrations have a simple, child-like quality to them which really enhance the entertaining story of Claire and her gator.
While the story is rather silly and humorous, the issue of fitting in is addressed. Claire worries that people will stare, and what her friends will think of her when they see her with a gator on her head. The gator assures her that it will all be fine, and it is! Everyone notices the gator, but they all think it is a pretty neat thing to have a gator on your head.
Books for Kids
While the story is rather silly and humorous, the issue of fitting in is addressed. Claire worries that people will stare, and what her friends will think of her when they see her with a gator on her head. The gator assures her that it will all be fine, and it is! Everyone notices the gator, but they all think it is a pretty neat thing to have a gator on your head.
Books for Kids
February 8, 2020
In this one a girl named Claire wakes up to having a cute little gator on top of her head. Why a gator should be in her hair is a mystery of bizarre proportions even Ripley's wouldn't believe! But let's say Claire is about to have a bad gator day. Until the gator convinces her that having a gator on your do is actually kinda cool. You can go on rollercoasters, dance in a ballet, have people gossip behind your back, and it'll still be an awesome way to be the bravest type of person there is: yourself. And yes, Claire does do ballet moves with the gator on her head, sorta a pas de DEWBACK. (lol.) Well, there are other girls that have sported reptilian coifs and look cooler for it. Just ask Medusa: her hair is all snakes! Which makes the gator do a total croc...but then why argue? Cos with a gator on your Head and Shoulders, (lol) you can have a second chance to GATOR FIRST IMPRESSION!!
Four stars
Gator self a cool do today!
Four stars
Gator self a cool do today!
August 26, 2020
A girl and her gator is a book about a girl who has a gator on her head. She asks the gator to get off her head because having one is inconvenient while listing off reasons. The gator gives her several reasons why having a gator on your head isn't actually all that bad. She ends up agreeing with the gator.
I think this book is very cute. The entire thing is in rhyme and has a unique art style. It is pretty simple, and my one thing against it isn't really a big deal. It uses some French words that might confuse the younger kids.
I would use it in a classroom, but maybe not for an educational purpose. It can teach rhyme, but there are plenty of other books that may be better suited for that purpose. This book would probably be a time filler book or a book that I let my kids read during free read time. I wouldn't read this aloud to my class to teach them.
I think this book is very cute. The entire thing is in rhyme and has a unique art style. It is pretty simple, and my one thing against it isn't really a big deal. It uses some French words that might confuse the younger kids.
I would use it in a classroom, but maybe not for an educational purpose. It can teach rhyme, but there are plenty of other books that may be better suited for that purpose. This book would probably be a time filler book or a book that I let my kids read during free read time. I wouldn't read this aloud to my class to teach them.
February 23, 2018
This rhyming book follows Claire and the gator Pierre. Claire wakes up one day to discover that she has a gator named Pierre on her head. She is trying to compromise with him that he cannot hang on her head, but Pierre makes a very compelling case as to why nothing really has to change"au contraire" you can do anything with a a gator up there!
If you have a stuffed animal alligator/crocodile to put on her head while reading this story will add to the effects of the story. It's a great story to read about accepting yourself and embracing changes.
If you have a stuffed animal alligator/crocodile to put on her head while reading this story will add to the effects of the story. It's a great story to read about accepting yourself and embracing changes.
December 21, 2019
My two year old really enjoyed this book, but I felt like it's really just a three. Absurd and funny premise, but the rhymes were fairly repetitive and the end of the story just came totally out of left field and also didn't really fit the rhyming pattern. But I liked the idea of this gator on your head as a cool and enviable trait for the girl to have. A silly one, good for crocodile fans like my daughter.
July 10, 2017
Claire, the "girl" mentioned in the title, wakes up with the titular gator in her hair. Over the course of the book, she figures out just what to do about her situation. Silly story, cute illustrations: I thought it was pretty rad.
July 17, 2019
Rhyming text and minimalist illustrations are perfect to tell the story of a young girl who woke up with a gator on her head. She's worried that people will mock her, but there's a great lesson on differences and acceptance and friendship. Funny and fun, definitely a story time winner.
July 23, 2018
The illustrations were really cute and the rhyming text was charming! I thought the ends was a tad abrupt.
January 7, 2019
Silly story about a girl who wakes up with a gator on her head and together with the gator she imagines what life will be like for them.
March 14, 2021
Hilarious compounded by dancing drawings. Claire can dress for a bakery, ballet or anywhere with Pierre in her hair.
October 25, 2023
Simple but cute illustrations. And the illustrator lives in Westchester!
March 25, 2017
It was fine. I was impressed by the rhyme. Nothing to write home about.
July 7, 2007
One day a girl named Claire
gets out of bed and finds a gator in her hair.
Being reasonable, Claire asks the gator (Pierre)
to vacate her head before people stare.
To which Pierre responds "Au contrair!"
explaining why any other girl would wish for a gator in her hair.
Such is the story created by Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy
in their second book where things get topsy turvy.
Now might also be the time,
to mention that it's written in rhyme.
Joking aside, A Girl and Her Gator (2006) is one of my favorite picture books of all time. I found it in the library where I work last year and have been hooked ever since. I read it to coworkers, I read it to the eight-year-olds that came to my read alouds, I read it to my friends. The point being that everyone--from that wide range of ages--thought the book was great. Sean Bryan's writing is fantastic. You wouldn't think there are that many ways rhyme "gator" but Bryan comes up with quite a few. The story, of course, is funny as Pierre tries to explain the benefits of having a gator in her hair to Claire. But by the end of the story it also shows readers that it's not only okay to be different, it can also be really fun. A great message that I don't think readers can hear enough.
As amazing as Bryan's writing is, the words only really come to life with Tom Murphy's illustrations. The drawings have sharp outlines and simple compositions (just the basic elements needed to convey the story) which are great for younger readers because the images are easy to decipher. The illustration style also makes it great to read aloud to a group because the clean images can be "read" easily from a distance.
I haven't worked out how to use these elements to my advantage, but I also like that the book has a definite color scheme (pink, as the cover suggests) and that it spends so much time on what attire goes best with a gator (I say "pirate wear" though the authors disagreed).
I loved this book so much that I was thrilled when I found out that there was not only a prequel (A Boy and His Bunny from 2005) but also a sequel that was published in 2007 called A Bear and His Boy.
gets out of bed and finds a gator in her hair.
Being reasonable, Claire asks the gator (Pierre)
to vacate her head before people stare.
To which Pierre responds "Au contrair!"
explaining why any other girl would wish for a gator in her hair.
Such is the story created by Sean Bryan and Tom Murphy
in their second book where things get topsy turvy.
Now might also be the time,
to mention that it's written in rhyme.
Joking aside, A Girl and Her Gator (2006) is one of my favorite picture books of all time. I found it in the library where I work last year and have been hooked ever since. I read it to coworkers, I read it to the eight-year-olds that came to my read alouds, I read it to my friends. The point being that everyone--from that wide range of ages--thought the book was great. Sean Bryan's writing is fantastic. You wouldn't think there are that many ways rhyme "gator" but Bryan comes up with quite a few. The story, of course, is funny as Pierre tries to explain the benefits of having a gator in her hair to Claire. But by the end of the story it also shows readers that it's not only okay to be different, it can also be really fun. A great message that I don't think readers can hear enough.
As amazing as Bryan's writing is, the words only really come to life with Tom Murphy's illustrations. The drawings have sharp outlines and simple compositions (just the basic elements needed to convey the story) which are great for younger readers because the images are easy to decipher. The illustration style also makes it great to read aloud to a group because the clean images can be "read" easily from a distance.
I haven't worked out how to use these elements to my advantage, but I also like that the book has a definite color scheme (pink, as the cover suggests) and that it spends so much time on what attire goes best with a gator (I say "pirate wear" though the authors disagreed).
I loved this book so much that I was thrilled when I found out that there was not only a prequel (A Boy and His Bunny from 2005) but also a sequel that was published in 2007 called A Bear and His Boy.
June 8, 2014
Title: A Girl and Her Gator
Author: Sean Bryan
Illustrator: Tom Murphy
Date of Publication: 2006
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
This short story is about a girl named Claire who wakes up with a gator on top of her hair. She grows from being uncomfortable with her condition, weary about others' reactions, to embracing the gator as a new accessory.
Evaluation:
This story is hilarious! The use of rhyme and quirky humor makes it an awesome read-aloud for a younger group of students. If read independently, it would be appropriate for an advanced emergent reader, progressing to the early stage. The simple illustrations, size of font, and prominence of white space makes it a very friendly/non-intimidating read for the emergent readers! The message of embracing your differences is subtle, but definitely effective as the author weaves it in through cleaver rhymes and unpredictable circumstances.
Discussion Questions:
1. What made Claire unique?
2. How did she deal with the new friend she found attached to her head?
3. What makes you different from others? How do you embrace your individuality?
Author: Sean Bryan
Illustrator: Tom Murphy
Date of Publication: 2006
Genre: Fiction
Summary:
This short story is about a girl named Claire who wakes up with a gator on top of her hair. She grows from being uncomfortable with her condition, weary about others' reactions, to embracing the gator as a new accessory.
Evaluation:
This story is hilarious! The use of rhyme and quirky humor makes it an awesome read-aloud for a younger group of students. If read independently, it would be appropriate for an advanced emergent reader, progressing to the early stage. The simple illustrations, size of font, and prominence of white space makes it a very friendly/non-intimidating read for the emergent readers! The message of embracing your differences is subtle, but definitely effective as the author weaves it in through cleaver rhymes and unpredictable circumstances.
Discussion Questions:
1. What made Claire unique?
2. How did she deal with the new friend she found attached to her head?
3. What makes you different from others? How do you embrace your individuality?
December 2, 2013
We recently read A Boy and His Bunny and noticed that at the end of the story we were introduced to a girl and her gator. Our girls anticipated that there'd be a second book, and we were pleasantly surprised to see that they were correct.
This story is very similar to the first book, except that instead of rhyming with the word 'head,' the sentences rhyme with the word 'hair.' It's a short, rhyming story that is fun to read aloud. I loved that I got to read the story with a French accent. Our girls thought it was very funny and we enjoyed reading the book together. We are all looking forward to reading A Bear and His Boy next.
This story is very similar to the first book, except that instead of rhyming with the word 'head,' the sentences rhyme with the word 'hair.' It's a short, rhyming story that is fun to read aloud. I loved that I got to read the story with a French accent. Our girls thought it was very funny and we enjoyed reading the book together. We are all looking forward to reading A Bear and His Boy next.
April 7, 2015
The couch in the library where I was sitting had a pile of picture books spread all over it. This caught my eye so I picked it up to read plus a couple of other ones. The author mentions in their blurb on the back cover how they are trying to introduce a new genre in books, ones about people with animals on their head. This is about a girl who wakes up and discovers an alligator on her head. And how he wont get off but travels with her all day doing things with her. It's very funny and has some very good comments on social norms. The author has written several more books about people with animals on their heads, and books about animals with people on their backs...
August 25, 2009
I loved his book "A Boy and His Bunny," that I simply had to read this book. This book is about Claire, the sister of the boy with a bunny on his head, who wakes up one morning to find a gator named Pierre on top of her hair. I love it that the gator is French and they have all these different outfits for her and the gator. And it sets up his next book about a bear with a boy on his head. How can you not love a book that ends with: "Have you met my cousin who lives in Bel-Air? He woke up attached to a Kodiak bear."
May 19, 2012
The author's previous book, The Boy and His Bunny, made me smile and I enjoyed sharing it with students. This one is the sequel, the story of the boy's sister, who provided the ending hook in the first story. It is very similar, both in illustrations, story line, and rhyming rhythm, which are all clever enough. However, it suffers from not being as fresh as when I heard it the first time. (optional for K-3)
May 16, 2016
This is about a girl who wakes up with a gator on her head. She is worried what people will think and how she will be treated. With the help of the gator, she finds that she can do just as much and people will be jealous of her new friend! The media is pretty animated and drawn with not a lot of detail. This book is meant for a really young audience to make them laugh. I really liked this quick book that will help kids embrace differences and those who are different to them.
October 20, 2015
A really wonderful storytime book. I read this to 2 groups of preschoolers for a "Letter G" theme and used an alligator puppet (held on top of my head, obviously) as a prop. It got a lot of laughs from grown-ups and kids alike! Good rhymes, clear illustrations, and a nice length make this a slam dunk.
May 12, 2016
Claire woke up with a gator up there.
Why I started this book: A coworker chose this book for today's Storytime.
Why I finished it: Charming, delightful, rhyming fun. I caught a few of my runners with this story. The children that can't sit still because they are so excited to be in the library... came closer for this story.
Why I started this book: A coworker chose this book for today's Storytime.
Why I finished it: Charming, delightful, rhyming fun. I caught a few of my runners with this story. The children that can't sit still because they are so excited to be in the library... came closer for this story.
June 23, 2008
I read this charming picture book to my cousin Shea at the Kingman Public Library yesterday. While it had a bit too much of a fashion focus for my adult feminist tastes, it was fun to read and is probably about perfect for the average 4-6 year old girl.
May 5, 2013
★★★★A Girl and Her Gator by Sean Bryan
This is another cute story, from the author of "A Boy and His Bunny." In this one Claire wakes up with a gator stuck in her hair. We liked that her friends thought it was cool, that she had a gator. The pictures were also very adorable.
This is another cute story, from the author of "A Boy and His Bunny." In this one Claire wakes up with a gator stuck in her hair. We liked that her friends thought it was cool, that she had a gator. The pictures were also very adorable.
August 28, 2016
A girl wakes up to a gator on her head. His name is Pierre and the book goes on about how it is OK that this happened: rhyming the whole entire time. My daughter liked the first one a bit more but still enjoyed this one. Would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews