Snappsy the alligator is having a normal day when a pesky narrator steps in to spice up the story. 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?
WATCH and LISTEN to Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) by Julie Falatko, illustrated by Tim Miller on StorylineOnline.net or here:
SONG: Alligator Stomp
One alligator in the swamp, doing the alligator stomp.
Found a partner, saying, “How do you do?”
They danced together, now they are two.
Two alligators in the swamp, doing the alligator stomp.
Up came a gator, saying, “pardon me” and danced along… now there were three.
Three alligators in the swamp, doing the alligator stomp.
Up stepped a gator on the floor, and danced along… now there were four.
Four alligators in the swamp, doing the alligator stomp.
One took a slip and bumped her knee, Sat back down… now there were three.
Three alligators in the swamp, doing the alligator stomp.
One got dizzy cause he had the flu, Sat back down… now there were two.
Two alligators in the swamp, doing the alligator stomp.
One said, “later! I got to run!” Went straight home… now there was one.
One alligator in the swamp, doing the alligator stomp.
Ended just as she (he) had begun, Said, “goodbye” now there was none.
CLICK here for a Teacher’s Guide (.pdf) from Storytime Online.
WATCH and LISTEN to the Brightly Storytime version.
CRAFT. Click here for a Snappsy the Alligator craft.
ALPHABET ACTIVITY. The narrator thinks Snappsy the Alligator only likes food with names beginning with the letter P. Can you think of foods for each letter of the alphabet? It’s hard to do, isn’t it?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. You can talk with older children about narration and point of view. Point of view: Who is telling the story, or part of a story – who is giving the information. A narrator is someone who tells the story from their point of view. Here are some sample questions:
- What does it mean when we say there are two sides to every story?
- How does the narrator differ from the main character in a story?
- Do you think the story might be different if the main character told the story? Why?