zoe_m's review
4.0
This would be a really fun read-aloud. There’s a battle for power between the narrator and the main character. Also a great intro to writer bias.
cweichel's review
5.0
This book is so much fun!
Snappsy the Alligator is just trying to live his ordinary life, when a pesky narrator shows up to describe, exaggerate, and embellish everything he does. Snappsy takes umbrage and tries to defend himself by revealing the truth in his behavior.
This story will be a hoot to just read out loud, but it can be read on other levels as well. I would love to use it as part of a critical literacy session and unpack it with a group of older readers. We would examine how the narrator has used language to stereotype Snappsy and manipulate our feelings towards him. It would be very interesting to see the kinds of connections we can make to our real lives.
Snappsy the Alligator is just trying to live his ordinary life, when a pesky narrator shows up to describe, exaggerate, and embellish everything he does. Snappsy takes umbrage and tries to defend himself by revealing the truth in his behavior.
This story will be a hoot to just read out loud, but it can be read on other levels as well. I would love to use it as part of a critical literacy session and unpack it with a group of older readers. We would examine how the narrator has used language to stereotype Snappsy and manipulate our feelings towards him. It would be very interesting to see the kinds of connections we can make to our real lives.
mortiffa's review
5.0
Think I appreciated this one more than the kiddos did, but they really enjoyed it!
librarianryan's review
medium-paced
3.0
Snappsy the alligator interacts with the narrator of the story. The narrator is kind of annoying. He is always wanting Snappsy to make things better, be more entertaining, etc. This book is cute, but not cute enough to out live my annoyance.
readingbooksinisrael's review
funny
inspiring
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's great for teaching about stereotypes.
tashrow's review
5.0
Snappsy discovers his day taken over by a narrator in this picture book. The book begins with the narrator explaining that Snappsy was feeling “draggy” and even his skin was “baggy.” Meanwhile, Snappsy himself actually feels hungry. The narrator keeps talking about Snappsy’s every move, sometimes just describing what is happening in each image and other times adding too much drama. When Snappsy reaches the grocery store, the narrator focuses on the letter P too much. Snappsy decides to throw a party so there is something to do, and the narrator continues to cause mayhem as the story progresses.
Falatko’s writing is very funny. Her timing is wonderful, Snappsy often reacting just the way that the reader would, calling the narrator out for doing a bad job at times and other times getting snarky when the narrator has miscalled what is about to happen. The influence of the narrator’s voice on a story is shown very clearly here and is a great way to talk about the tone of writing and how that can change an entire book to read one way or another. That said, this book can also just be read for the giggles which is the perfect reason to pick up any picture book.
Miller’s illustrations have the feel of a vintage picture book, just right for this subject matter. They add to the humor from the expressions on Snappsy’s face to the homey aspects to the house that Snappsy lives in.
A smart, silly and richly funny picture book that is sure to have people laughing when it’s shared aloud. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Falatko’s writing is very funny. Her timing is wonderful, Snappsy often reacting just the way that the reader would, calling the narrator out for doing a bad job at times and other times getting snarky when the narrator has miscalled what is about to happen. The influence of the narrator’s voice on a story is shown very clearly here and is a great way to talk about the tone of writing and how that can change an entire book to read one way or another. That said, this book can also just be read for the giggles which is the perfect reason to pick up any picture book.
Miller’s illustrations have the feel of a vintage picture book, just right for this subject matter. They add to the humor from the expressions on Snappsy’s face to the homey aspects to the house that Snappsy lives in.
A smart, silly and richly funny picture book that is sure to have people laughing when it’s shared aloud. Appropriate for ages 4-6.