Gator Dad

Lies (Bats at the Beach) urges readers to “squeeze the day” as he follows an alligator family’s at-home silliness (“If something in the fridge has gone bad... I’ll let you smell it, too”) and outdoor adventures. “I might even agree to do something that maybe we shouldn’t have done,” writes Lies, channeling the father’s perspective, as the gators tightrope walk across a fallen tree before tumbling into the pond below. Living room forts, cozying up during a thunderstorm, and bedtime reading are all richly illustrated in acrylic paintings filled with fun details to spot (the cereal aisle at the grocery store offers Mice Crispies and Deerios, for example). It’s a winning combination of warmth, humor, and heart. Ages 4–7. (May)