What do you think?
Rate this book
What If There Are Alligators?
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26176 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Beverley Brenna
23 books24 followersBeverley Brenna calls Saskatoon, Saskatchewan home base, and loves to travel (both for real, and through reading)!
She published her first poem in The Western Producer at age seven. From this point, she was hooked on writing!
Much of what she writes contains autobiographical scenes, such as the "friendship soup" in The Keeper of the Trees, and the care and keeping of a pet tarantula in Spider Summer.
She has worked as a babysitter, home daycare mom, clerk steno, draftsperson, caregiver for orphan lambs, teacher, and university professor as well as a writer and storyteller.
She published her first poem in The Western Producer at age seven. From this point, she was hooked on writing!
Much of what she writes contains autobiographical scenes, such as the "friendship soup" in The Keeper of the Trees, and the care and keeping of a pet tarantula in Spider Summer.
She has worked as a babysitter, home daycare mom, clerk steno, draftsperson, caregiver for orphan lambs, teacher, and university professor as well as a writer and storyteller.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this with my 8-year-old granddaughter, and we both really enjoyed it.
Living in Florida, we're pretty used to seeing alligators, so we had to laugh at Belvin's constant worry about them. It made for some fun conversations while we were reading together.
Beyond the alligator jokes, this turned out to be a really sweet story about facing fears, building confidence, and discovering that you're stronger than you think. Belvin spends the summer on his aunt's goat farm while his twin brother heads off to camp, and watching him grow more independent was rewarding from beginning to end.
My granddaughter loved all the animals, especially the goats, and I appreciated how naturally the story encouraged conversations about anxiety, trying new things, and believing in yourself without ever feeling preachy.
This is a wonderful middle grade read that's perfect for independent readers or as a family read-aloud. It has plenty of heart, a few laughs, and a message that kids can easily connect with.
We both enjoyed our time with Belvin, and it's a book I'd happily recommend to families with elementary-aged readers.
I read this with my 8-year-old granddaughter, and we both really enjoyed it.
Living in Florida, we're pretty used to seeing alligators, so we had to laugh at Belvin's constant worry about them. It made for some fun conversations while we were reading together.
Beyond the alligator jokes, this turned out to be a really sweet story about facing fears, building confidence, and discovering that you're stronger than you think. Belvin spends the summer on his aunt's goat farm while his twin brother heads off to camp, and watching him grow more independent was rewarding from beginning to end.
My granddaughter loved all the animals, especially the goats, and I appreciated how naturally the story encouraged conversations about anxiety, trying new things, and believing in yourself without ever feeling preachy.
This is a wonderful middle grade read that's perfect for independent readers or as a family read-aloud. It has plenty of heart, a few laughs, and a message that kids can easily connect with.
We both enjoyed our time with Belvin, and it's a book I'd happily recommend to families with elementary-aged readers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a fun read! You feel as if you are at Aunt Edna’s farm with Belvin and all the animals. Belvin’s twin brother is going to camp, his Pops is going away, and mom wants to write a book. Belvin isn’t happy about going to aunt’s. What if there are alligators there? When he’s there she tells him the chores he will be helping her with, and then they can go swimming at a swimming hole. Again, Belvin worries about alligators. His aunt says we’re too far north for them. One day when two groups come to play with the goats and feed them, Belvin meets Ellie and she decides she wants to volunteer while her mom is busy teaching yoga. They get the idea to do goat yoga and his aunt is thrilled. The money will help her farm out. People love the goat yoga. Weeks later when Belvin’s mom calls she wants him to come home because everyone else is now home. He realizes he’s not ready to go home. Will he be allowed to stay?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
My daughter and I read What If There Are Alligators together, and we both really enjoyed it. We loved following Belvin's summer adventure on the goat farm as he stepped out of his twin brother's shadow, faced his fears, and discovered his own strengths. The story has a great mix of humor, adventure, and heart, and the goats and new friendships made it even more fun. It’s a wonderful middle grade read about growing up, building confidence, and learning that it’s okay to follow your own path.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.
August 21, 2026
3.5
What a cute wholesome read about a boy connecting with his aunt, learning about animals, and conquering his fears/anxieties! A great book to recommend for kids who like animals and farms! I could see students anywhere from Grades 2-5 enjoying this story!
What a cute wholesome read about a boy connecting with his aunt, learning about animals, and conquering his fears/anxieties! A great book to recommend for kids who like animals and farms! I could see students anywhere from Grades 2-5 enjoying this story!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews