In teacherspeak, Magnolia is . . . spirited (you can tell just by the way she decorated her locker). When show-and-tell rolls around, Magnolia doesn't bring a bird's nest or a hollow stick like everybody else. She brings an alligator (it's OK; she knows all about them). But alligators are trouble: he draws funny pictures during spelling, makes paper airplanes during art, and gets gum everywhere during math (but, hey, at least he didn't eat any kids). And, of course, it's Magnolia who's in hot water. But maybe, if the duo is really good until show-and-tell, she can impress her teacher with her knowledge of alligator facts and not get sent to the principal's office after all. Maybe. Told in Give a Mouse a Cookie style second person, this how-not-to-behave instruction manual has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments for a young audience. Parsley excels particularly at depicting facial expressions: mischievous Magnolia looks like a real terror, the teacher is understandably exasperated, and the alligator is a master of the crocodile smile. A fun, quirky offering with plenty of read-aloud appeal.

K-Gr 2 Is Magnolia a rebel or natural leader? Readers will need to decide when this young avant-garde student brings an alligator to school for show and tell. In second person narration, readers are warned against bringing an alligator to school, as the text and illustrations use Magnolia and her mischievious alligator as examples of the havoc that such a creature can bring to a classroom setting. After the alligator chews gum in class, tries to eat a student, and shows funny pictures during the teacher's lesson, he is finally introduced during show and tell. When Magnolia reveals a surprising fact about alligators (they are only afraid of other alligatorsand humans!), the troublesome creature makes a run for it. Magnolia, could be the sister of David, from David Shannon's picture book series, with her large round head, wide mouth, and wiry hair. Magnolia is as busy as the alligator and just as prone to tomfoolery. The endpapers continue the goofy fun. VERDICT This is an engaging debut picture book written in free verse will appeal to a wide age range. Here's hoping for more adventures with Magnolia! Gwen Collier, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, NY