TITLE: SNAPPSY THE ALLIGATOR (DID NOT ASK TO BE IN THIS BOOK)
AUTHOR: Julie Falatko
ILLUSTRATOR: Tim Miller
PUBLICATION INFO: Viking Books for Young Readers (February 2, 2016)
ISBN: 978-0451469458
SOURCE: personal copy
INTENDED AUDIENCE: ages 4+
GENRE: picture book
OPENING and SYNOPSIS:
“Snappsy the alligator wasn’t feeling like himself.
His feet felt draggy.
His skin felt baggy.”
From the publisher: “Snappsy the alligator is having a normal day when a pesky narrator steps in to spice up the story. Is Snappsy reading a book … or is he making CRAFTY plans? Is Snappsy on his way to the grocery store … or is he PROWLING the forest for defenseless birds and fuzzy bunnies? Is Snappsy innocently shopping for a party … or is he OBSESSED with snack foods that start with the letter P? What’s the truth? ”
THEMES/TOPICS: storytelling
WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK: Snappsy…How do we love you, let us count the ways. My first-grader is a big fan of other metafiction like WE ARE IN A BOOK (Willems) and A PERFECTLY MESSED UP STORY (McDonnell). He found the dichotomy between what the narrator said about Snappsy and what Snappsy was actually doing to be hilarious. Snappsy shopping at the supermarket was a favorite. This book is fun for home, but is wonderful in a classroom as well. I read it to a group of third-graders for Read Across America, and the book prompted a lively discussion about narrators and storytelling. The students also commented on Miller’s illustrations, including the fact that Snappsy is holding a book about himself on the front cover.
RESOURCES/ACTIVITIES:
- Have older students write a Snappsy-style book. What happens when the narrator says one thing, and the character does another?
- Falatko offers Snappsy activity sheets on her Snappsy Activity Sheets.
- Make your own Snappsy using egg cartons and more.
You’ll find way more cool books at Susanna Leonard Hill’s “Perfect Picture Books.” Every Friday folks review a host of new books. Join us!
Kirsten W. Larson 
I read SNAPPSY this week and boy, after all the promotion, I was NOT disappointed. Very funny and fabulous art work.
I agree. There have been many lauded PBs that just don’t pass the “real kid” test at my house. We read them, and my kids stare at me blankly, and say, “What?” Fortunately, Snappsy appeals to both kids and adults. Hooray for Julie.
Love Julie’s use of humor. It sounds like a great discussion book. Read another review of the book where the narrator was likened to Rita Skeeter in Harry Potter. Look forward to reading SNAPPSY.
Hi Patricia, Julie definitely delivers on the laughs with this one. I hope you enjoy it.
I love this style of humor in books. I haven’t seen this gem yet, but I’ve got it on my list for the library!
It really is a fun book. My kids got so much out of it, especially since we’ve been reading a lot of meta fiction of late. Thanks for stopping by!
Everything I see and read about this book makes me want it more! Great review.
It’s a good study in metafiction. And I’ve been studying a lot of metafiction lately, some good, some not so good.
I want to read this book! I just love the idea of an alligator shopping for food – and a narrator trying to “spice things up” (reminds me of certain tabloids printing “news”).
Check out this 7-imp blog post,and you can see the interiors. http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=3992
I just LOVED Snappsy! Read it this week as well, and it was so much fun.
As a bonus, my kids have enjoyed it more than once. That’s always a good sign.
A good one indeed. The narrator voice is hilarious.
And how funny that the narrator is a chicken. I love the chicken dance.
I’ve been reading about this book all over – I REALLY need to get it!
It’s a best-seller, so hooray for Julie.
I’ve heard a lot of good things about this one, and I’m excited to read it. 🙂
You will enjoy it!