What If There Are Alligators
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Pub Date Sep 15 2026 | Archive Date Aug 5 2026
Publisher Spotlight | Pajama Press
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Description
From the pen of award-winning author Beverley Brenna comes a heartwarming story about a boy who overcomes an irrational fear, gains confidence in his ability to problem solve, learns to become a strong team player on his aunt’s farm, and ultimately demonstrates uncommon bravery.
Nine-year-old Belvin has lived in the shadow of his gregarious twin brother who is determined to go to summer camp—where Belvin doesn’t want to go. His biological father has disappeared; his mother longs to be a novelist; and his stepfather Pops is bent on an independent summer trip to Copenhagen. What’s Belvin to do but spend the summer on his aunt’s goat farm? There he learns a lot of new things about raising goats, making friends, facing his fears, and, ultimately, how to trust himself.
Belvin’s deep-seated fear of alligators began in childhood, although living on the prairies makes confronting one unlikely, he has cultivated a fascination for all apex predators. His overblown terror fades as he spends the summer learning to be on his own without following behind his twin brother. Belvin thrives in this new environment: doing heavy farm work; hanging out with the goats; and making friends with a neighbour girl. In the end, Belvin shows thoughtful and quick-witted decision making as he rises to a particularly frightening situation and saves the day.
A thoughtful and funny tale of Belvin’s crazy summer vacation where he grows through new experiences, finds unexpected bravery, and ultimately realizes that everyone is different and can follow their own path.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781772783797 |
| PRICE | $18.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 176 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 8 members
Featured Reviews
Reviewer 97771
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.
Alena B, Reviewer
This was such an adorable children’s book. I loved how it captured the way kids’ imaginations can turn worries into something huge and overwhelming. The story handled those “what if” fears with humor, warmth, and reassurance, making it a great read for children who sometimes get stuck in anxious thoughts. The illustrations and message made this one easy to enjoy together.
Reviewer 2100064
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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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.
Reviewer 1979230
Cute! Seems really good for teaching kids how to handle themselves in different situations and with different emotions. The title definitely drew me in but I will admit, I had assumed it was for younger students based on the cover and title! For a early reader chapter book, though, it was well done. Challenging without being defeating.
What If There Are Alligators is a sweet, thoughtful story about anxiety, family, and facing your fears. I read this book with my child and we really enjoyed getting to know Belvin! As someone who worries a lot, I was definitely able to connect with Belvin and his fears!
Overall my child and I really enjoyed this story!
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