Customer Reviews

Alligator in the Basement

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ISBN 092519090x -Printed in the United States of America. Age range not stated. Pictorial hardcover without dustjacket. 27 pages. Published by Fairview Press in 1996. By Bob Keeshan, illustrated by Kyle Corkum.

A young boy tells the story of visiting his grandparents, who he calls Gamma and Granddad. Gamma makes him laugh and Granddad does nice things with his grandson, like taking walks. One day, the pair goes into the basement for a hammer and Gamma warns them to watch out for Al, short for Alligator. The alligator, Granddad informs him, lives in the washing machine. Sure enough, the alligator comes out of the machine and hisses endlessly, scaring the boy - but not Granddad, who is very brave. They also meet a monkey on top of the furnace and Granddad tells the boy that he can change the monkey's shirt just by ordering it changed.

I hardly know where to begin. Because the back cover says the book is about using your imagination, you know that the boy and his grandparents are using their imaginations, but that's really the only reason you know that. There's very little in the book to indicate that the alligator, or the monkey, are imaginary, except a passing mention that Gamma doesn't believe in alligators in the basement (which is kind of dumb, since she's the one who brought it up). Since so many kids' books feature strange animals, with strange abilities, in strange places, assuming that the alligator is imaginary isn't as logical as it sounds. The illustrations are pleasant, but nothing special. The book is all right, but I can't think of any reason that I'd spend money to get a copy.

- AnnaLovesBooks

don't believe the review above...this book is pure genius of children's fiction. my kids have actually called mr. keeshan to express gratitude for the spiritual and psychological growth (using those words exactly, at such young ages, with the help of the intellectual advancement provoked by this tale) this book has provided them with. i read it to them every night. please, think of the children. buy this book. i read it when i'm depressed. merely thinking about it is overwhelming. please, i implore you: buy! buy!