Chomp goes the Alligator by Matthew Van Fleet -ADVISABLE

Chomp goes the Alligator by Matthew Van Fleet. BOARD BOOK. Simon. 2018. $20. 9781534426771

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K  – ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

This board book features  river scene throughout, with a cute little chomping alligator who eats the creatures it comes across. Readers and pull a tab to see the alligators mouth open and close to chomp. Each page features a rhyming storyline, the creature that’s about to be eaten, and tons of textures for the reader to feel. As the book continues on, the alligators body grows and grows.

I think young readers will adore this book and want to read it over and over again. I would rate it as essential but the chomping mechanism and the fragile spine could be easily broken in a library checkout setting and make the book not as fun. Children will learn about river creatures as they read this book, which adds a slight education component. It’s an oversized board book which would make it difficult to hold for pre-k, but they would still enjoy looking at it. The story line would be appreciated by Kindergartners as well.

Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.