SOLVED. Children's Picture book. A frog and a toad, or possibly two crocodiles/ alligators, each try and get toys that are better than their friend's toys. At the end, they realize that their friendship is more important than stuff. Read in 1970's. [s]

[Hannah]

My mum read this book when she was a kid in the 1970's, it is a fiction book and picture book and the story is about two friends: she thinks they were either a frog and a toad or an alligator and crocodile. They are at the river when one of the friends takes out a toy and is showing off about it and the other friend goes off and gets something bigger and better. This is done with various toys like a bucket and spade, paddling pool, cowboy outfit and so on. My mum remembers the line that repeated each time a new toy was introduced - 'Hmm said (name) and without another word he went home. She also thinks that one of the friends name was Algy / Algie.
Thanks for reading!
:)

[Kris]

Hannah, can you describe the illustrations - e.g., simple or detailed, realistic or cartoon-like, painted watercolors or bold graphics? Do they remind your mother of a similar illustrator or picture book author?

[Hannah]

Hi Kris, my mum says they were simple black outline illustrations with basic primary colours: she remembers a lot of reds, greens and yellow, The two characters were next door neighbours who met up on their back door steps. :)

[Simi]

See You Later, Alligator by Norma Charles
The version I found has the illustrations copyrighted as 1991 and the text copyright as 1974 so it may look completely different.

It has the lines you mentioned "Hum," he said. And without another word he went home. The animals take turns saying this phrase, and each time come back with something better. Allie the Alligator and Corky the Crocodile. They're eventually dressed up in cowboy outfits. Missing the parts about bucket and spade, and paddling pool though.

[Simi]

Quick update. The newer version has illustrations from Yvonne Cathcart. The one you want is probably an earlier one with illustrations from Carol Moran.

[Becca]

Great find, Simi! Here's the 1974 edition with illustrations by Carol Moran - See You Later, Alligator.

[Hannah]

Simi wrote: "See You Later, Alligator by Norma Charles
The version I found has the illustrations copyrighted as 1991 and the text copyright as 1974 so it may look completely different.

It has the lines you men..."

Hi, thankyou so so much, I think this is the one! My mum will be thrilled :) I really appreciate you taking the time to look for it! :)

[Hannah]

Becca wrote: "Great find, Simi! Here's the 1974 edition with illustrations by Carol Moran - See You Later, Alligator."

Thankyou!

[Simi]

Thanks Becca. I wasn't able to find that version on goodreads :-/

No problem Hannah. That 1974 cover looks quite distinctive.

[Becca]

Simi wrote: "Thanks Becca. I wasn't able to find that version on goodreads :-/


Yes, I saw that that edition wasn't on Goodreads so I found the cover image etc. on Amazon and quickly added it!

[Hannah]

Yes! My mum just confirmed it is the one! She's so happy thanks Simi and Becca! :)

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Hannah. FYI, the edition I added to the header is the "default" version that Goodreads automatically lists as the first choice. This tends to avoid duplicate entries in our group bookshelf.

[Hannah]

Kris wrote: "Glad you found your book, Hannah. FYI, the edition I added to the header is the "default" version that Goodreads automatically lists as the first choice. This tends to avoid duplicate entries in ou..."

Thanks Kris!

[Rainbowheart]

Yeah, the 1994 edition of See You Later, Alligator looks very different!