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Gator Dad: A Heartwarming Story About an Alligator Father and Simple Family Fun for Kids
From seemingly mundane tasks such as grocery shopping to more active pursuits like a romp at the park and fort-building, a loving and playful father alligator shows his gator kids that the simplest pleasures done together can make for an incredibly fun day. Presented by New York Times bestselling author Brian Lies (Bats at the Beach), this heartwarming story demonstrates a series of very special ways children can connect with their fathers and should appeal to parents and little readers everywhere.
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2016
2 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
Brian Lies
48 books165 followersI was born in 1963 in Princeton, New Jersey, which back then was a quiet college town, surrounded by old farmland slowly giving way to housing developments. I spent a lot of time building dams and forts in the woods across the street with my best friend, inventing things, and writing and drawing with my older sister. At various times during my childhood, we had newts, gerbils and rabbits as pets. When I was in fifth grade, an author and illustrator visited my school, and I was amazed that one could have a job writing and drawing. I wished it could be my job! But I didn’t think I was good enough at either writing or drawing to even try.
I had always liked to draw, though, and kept doing it just for fun. During high school, I also painted with oil paints and made stained glass windows. I actually sold some, too—my first taste of self-employment. I went to Brown University after high school, where I studied Psychology and British and American Literature. I began to think about what I really wanted to do for a career, and what I really wanted was something that involved art. So after graduation from college in 1985, I moved to Boston to study drawing and painting at the Boston Museum School (also known as the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).
At the Museum School, I started getting paintings in exhibitions and won a few prizes, and then was able to get political illustrations published in the Christian Science Monitor and the Boston Globe.
Suddenly I had a career as an editorial and political illustrator, working with a lot of magazines and newspapers. In 1989, I illustrated my first book, Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye, with Houghton Mifflin Company in Boston.
Since then, I've illustrated some twenty books, including my newest one, Bats at the Library, which I also wrote. My other three written-and-illustrated books to date are the New York Times bestseller, Bats at the Beach, Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite, and Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle.
I also get lots of work published in Cricket, Spider, Ladybug and Babybug magazines, and I enjoy visiting schools to work with students on writing and illustrating stories.
I live in a seaside town in Massachusetts with my wife, my daughter, two cats and a hamster. My hobbies are bicycling, woodworking, and tending a big vegetable garden behind the house. I’m very interested in old-fashioned food preparation, too, and sometimes make my own cheese, kimchi and other things (including a drink called switchel, which I kind of liked but which everybody else in my family thought was nasty).
I also read a lot, which I think is important—it keeps my imagination going, and leaves me feeling much more relaxed than television does!
I had always liked to draw, though, and kept doing it just for fun. During high school, I also painted with oil paints and made stained glass windows. I actually sold some, too—my first taste of self-employment. I went to Brown University after high school, where I studied Psychology and British and American Literature. I began to think about what I really wanted to do for a career, and what I really wanted was something that involved art. So after graduation from college in 1985, I moved to Boston to study drawing and painting at the Boston Museum School (also known as the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston).
At the Museum School, I started getting paintings in exhibitions and won a few prizes, and then was able to get political illustrations published in the Christian Science Monitor and the Boston Globe.
Suddenly I had a career as an editorial and political illustrator, working with a lot of magazines and newspapers. In 1989, I illustrated my first book, Flatfoot Fox and the Case of the Missing Eye, with Houghton Mifflin Company in Boston.
Since then, I've illustrated some twenty books, including my newest one, Bats at the Library, which I also wrote. My other three written-and-illustrated books to date are the New York Times bestseller, Bats at the Beach, Hamlet and the Enormous Chinese Dragon Kite, and Hamlet and the Magnificent Sandcastle.
I also get lots of work published in Cricket, Spider, Ladybug and Babybug magazines, and I enjoy visiting schools to work with students on writing and illustrating stories.
I live in a seaside town in Massachusetts with my wife, my daughter, two cats and a hamster. My hobbies are bicycling, woodworking, and tending a big vegetable garden behind the house. I’m very interested in old-fashioned food preparation, too, and sometimes make my own cheese, kimchi and other things (including a drink called switchel, which I kind of liked but which everybody else in my family thought was nasty).
I also read a lot, which I think is important—it keeps my imagination going, and leaves me feeling much more relaxed than television does!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 5, 2020
Great representation of male caregiver without explicitly making a statement about it. Typically great illustrations by Lies.
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May 8, 2016If we could bottle up laughter allowing a little bit out on those days when we need it the most, I would have saved my dad's laughter. Once he got started he could not stop. Tears would run down his face and he would be gasping for breath.
That man had a huge sense of humor. With two daughters and a wife who got herself into Lucille Ball type situations, he needed it. With him everything was an adventure and an opportunity for us to learn something new. His favorite saying was actions speak louder than words. Gator Dad (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 3, 2016) written and illustrated by Brian Lies is a fun-filled look at a day with a dad; a tribute to a dad like my dad and many, many others.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
That man had a huge sense of humor. With two daughters and a wife who got herself into Lucille Ball type situations, he needed it. With him everything was an adventure and an opportunity for us to learn something new. His favorite saying was actions speak louder than words. Gator Dad (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, May 3, 2016) written and illustrated by Brian Lies is a fun-filled look at a day with a dad; a tribute to a dad like my dad and many, many others.
My full recommendation: http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
September 9, 2022
Featured in a grandma reads session.
Adventures with Dads - we were reading down our stack of "Dad" books for the month of June, and this one was in it - GATOR DAD!
We appreciated the good example of a Dad, who happens to also be a Gator and all the fun stuff he does with his gatorlets. We weren't even looking for books about Gator Dads, oddly enough, but came across this one because it is written by the "Batty" Brian Lies who created the Bats@ series we love!
Lucky us! (There was some mumbling by the one XX Chromosome in our group wondering about a Gator Mom book. . . .we hold out hope for one. . .)
Adventures with Dads - we were reading down our stack of "Dad" books for the month of June, and this one was in it - GATOR DAD!
We appreciated the good example of a Dad, who happens to also be a Gator and all the fun stuff he does with his gatorlets. We weren't even looking for books about Gator Dads, oddly enough, but came across this one because it is written by the "Batty" Brian Lies who created the Bats@ series we love!
Lucky us! (There was some mumbling by the one XX Chromosome in our group wondering about a Gator Mom book. . . .we hold out hope for one. . .)
June 19, 2025
This book is all the more charming for knowing that Brian is a stay-at-home Dad.
January 24, 2024
Awww! I loved it! Brian Lies illustrations are so cute! There’s never enough picture books on Dads! Also…Cricktor reference! Eeek!
May 26, 2016
A reptilian dad takes care of his kids. They run errands, they play in the park, they eat, wash up, and get ready for another day together. Dad loves his kids, and kids love their dad.
The story makes the family situation uncertain. Is this a single dad? Is another parent around but unseen? It doesn't matter. This is clearly a family filled with love and security.
The painted illustrations are richly colored and filled with funny details (frog tea to help start the day?). Kids will enjoy looking out for all the little tidbits here and there in the pictures.
The story makes the family situation uncertain. Is this a single dad? Is another parent around but unseen? It doesn't matter. This is clearly a family filled with love and security.
The painted illustrations are richly colored and filled with funny details (frog tea to help start the day?). Kids will enjoy looking out for all the little tidbits here and there in the pictures.
July 30, 2016
"A father shows love in many ways. Sometimes it's in what he says, but sometimes it's in what he does."
This is a super cute story about an Alligator family. Gator dad takes his kids on all kinds of fun adventures, but in reality they never leave the park or their house! The illustrations are so cute and vibrant! I also love how this is a story about a DAD engaging with his kids.
Go out and Squeeze the day!!
This is a super cute story about an Alligator family. Gator dad takes his kids on all kinds of fun adventures, but in reality they never leave the park or their house! The illustrations are so cute and vibrant! I also love how this is a story about a DAD engaging with his kids.
Go out and Squeeze the day!!
April 13, 2022
I fiercely adore Brian Lies' Bat Books, but I didn't connect the same way with Gator Dad. I can see what it is meant to be, and perhaps if I were a dad or a little boy I would love this, but I'm definitely not the intended target audience.
The illustrations are good, but they're not the inspired, gorgeous, delightful, magical thing that the bats are. I do love how the words are visually integrated into the pictures, and there are some perfect little details (the storytime-on-the-sofa scenery as well as the clever bath tub wordplay are standouts for me).
The story and language feel slightly flat and not-quite-finished... as well as a little too much like the book is trying to prove something... which I guess it is. As the author points out, there's not much children's literature that shows dads (or men, in general) fully involved in raising children. We certainly need more of that. So to any dads out there (especially those who are being judged for spending time with their kids, which is utterly ridiculous!) I would definitely recommend this book. Check out Interrupting Chicken as well.
The illustrations are good, but they're not the inspired, gorgeous, delightful, magical thing that the bats are. I do love how the words are visually integrated into the pictures, and there are some perfect little details (the storytime-on-the-sofa scenery as well as the clever bath tub wordplay are standouts for me).
The story and language feel slightly flat and not-quite-finished... as well as a little too much like the book is trying to prove something... which I guess it is. As the author points out, there's not much children's literature that shows dads (or men, in general) fully involved in raising children. We certainly need more of that. So to any dads out there (especially those who are being judged for spending time with their kids, which is utterly ridiculous!) I would definitely recommend this book. Check out Interrupting Chicken as well.
January 11, 2020
Read together October 6, 2019
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Book #3 in our “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge
Little One Book Review: Mommy and I read a cute book called “Gator Dad,” about an alligator daddy who spends the day with his 3 kids. Gator Dad wants to “squeeze” (seize) the day with his brood, so he wakes them up for an early morning breakfast to prepare them for the fun day ahead of them. They spend the day enjoying each other’s company: they go to the park for playful adventures, “tear up” the living room to make blanket and pillow forts, take a nice scrub in the tub, and of course, read a book together before bedtime. It’s a great day with Gator Dad.
Mama’s Book Review: This is a non-rhyming book, but the illustrations are the best part. The author demonstrates that dads are a critical component to the parenting experience, and that there’s great value in children spending the day with a loving father.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Book #3 in our “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” challenge
Little One Book Review: Mommy and I read a cute book called “Gator Dad,” about an alligator daddy who spends the day with his 3 kids. Gator Dad wants to “squeeze” (seize) the day with his brood, so he wakes them up for an early morning breakfast to prepare them for the fun day ahead of them. They spend the day enjoying each other’s company: they go to the park for playful adventures, “tear up” the living room to make blanket and pillow forts, take a nice scrub in the tub, and of course, read a book together before bedtime. It’s a great day with Gator Dad.
Mama’s Book Review: This is a non-rhyming book, but the illustrations are the best part. The author demonstrates that dads are a critical component to the parenting experience, and that there’s great value in children spending the day with a loving father.
January 16, 2018
Dad isn't babysitting in this inclusive picture book about how awesome fathers can be. Dad is being Dad, and I love that. I bought a signed copy as a gift for my daughters' step dad they think of as "Dad", not "step-Dad". He does the kinds of fun things this Gator Dad does. It meant a lot to the three of them. It's on our special shelf for the books that have extra meaning. Also, we love the illustrations. Vibrant, happy and just the right saturation to set the tone. As always, his use of light is fantastic.
August 29, 2016
a tribute to dad's everywhere. A gator dad spends the day with his three small gators playing and adventuring and telling them all the things he'll do for them in their day and lifetime. Any age group. Simple words and clear text.
May 1, 2018
I loved this book! so did the kids. Pictures are sweet and filled with some good adult details. (What I mean is details adults would appreciate, not details that are inappropriate for children.) Very few words on the page.
January 13, 2023
I think my favorite part was actually the author blurb on the back dust jacket. That elevated the story for me because seeing dads take the primary role during the day is a minority and showing dads as involved and caring is absolutely needed and appreciated.
August 28, 2025
The story is written as if from a Dad's point of view, it's just a list of the kinds of things he'll do all day while he hangs out with his kids. It's got great illustrations and a great message, but would be awkward to use in story time.
May 1, 2018
These illustrations are so darling.
July 12, 2018
It’s a cute book. I really love the illustrations, but the story could be better.
August 29, 2018
Great concept, great illustrations, bad writing. This seemed like it was supposed to rhyme, but it didn't. At all. Bummer. Would not use.
December 10, 2018
Fantastic illustrations, text is a little boring. Good for gator fans and kids who need more stories with positive dad portrayals (this one is nonspecifically mom-free, btw) ages 2-5.
January 12, 2019
Just a dad and his gator kids going about their day. Fun illustrations
July 10, 2019
Loved it!
September 8, 2019
A fun read!
August 12, 2021
This feels like a glimpse into the non-traditional stay at home dad. It is lovely and fun! Super quick read.
October 21, 2021
A dad and 3 little ones spend a normal day together -- eating and playing and going to bed.
Gator Dad is a very active dad and they roughhouse a lot.
No mention of mom.
Gator Dad is a very active dad and they roughhouse a lot.
No mention of mom.
June 25, 2023
Simple words (but I was surprised it wasn't a rhyming book), and fantastic illustrations, follow a dad and three little ones as they go through a day of chores.
February 5, 2024
Why doesn't it rhyme!!! This is the perfect book to have rhyme
April 24, 2025
A very sweet story of a dad enjoying a dad with his kids.
May 21, 2025
Just like Casey and the boys
January 6, 2026
To the people in our lives who make the day worthwhile and enjoyable.
I noticed there's a rabbit on almost every page - either live or plush.
I noticed there's a rabbit on almost every page - either live or plush.
March 14, 2017
Gators as humans but not funny. It was a story about an alligator family dress in clothes, looking very realistic, rather than personified. Just really weird and off putting.
July 5, 2016
Gator Dad's Got Game!Gator Dad by author/illustrator Brian Lies. This delightful book depicts an extraordinary dad engaging with his children. The exuberant illustrations wonderfully fulfill the text. The story opens with dad’s shadow looming over his sleeping children. This iconic image usually evokes fear in kids but these baby gators are EXCITED not afraid. Clearly they associate dad with fun and when he invites them to “squeeze the day,” they are willing conspirators.
Trips to the grocery store, the park, etc all unfold in rollicking adventures. Kids will delight in the high jinks while adults will identify with the exhausted dad’s periodic suggestion that the little gators need a rest. Imaginative, descriptive language convey a mood of fun and affection. Gator Dad, is a book that every family can enjoy. What comes across clearly is the joyful bond that connects this dad with his kiddos.
Adoptionn-attuned Lens: Dad understands that making fun together intensifies the affection they feel for one another. This presupposition is an important concept for all families, especially adoptive families. Too often we can get caught up in balancing school, homework, behavior, etc that we forget to have fun. But fun is integral to attachment; it must be a strong feature of family life. Fun doesn’t have to mean $$$. This story shows dad having fun even while doing chores!
--Gayle H. Swift, "ABC, ADoption & Me"
Trips to the grocery store, the park, etc all unfold in rollicking adventures. Kids will delight in the high jinks while adults will identify with the exhausted dad’s periodic suggestion that the little gators need a rest. Imaginative, descriptive language convey a mood of fun and affection. Gator Dad, is a book that every family can enjoy. What comes across clearly is the joyful bond that connects this dad with his kiddos.
Adoptionn-attuned Lens: Dad understands that making fun together intensifies the affection they feel for one another. This presupposition is an important concept for all families, especially adoptive families. Too often we can get caught up in balancing school, homework, behavior, etc that we forget to have fun. But fun is integral to attachment; it must be a strong feature of family life. Fun doesn’t have to mean $$$. This story shows dad having fun even while doing chores!
--Gayle H. Swift, "ABC, ADoption & Me"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews