We Don't Eat Our Neighbors

by Daniel J. Mahoney, Daniel J. Mahoney (Illustrator)

Overview

In this laugh-out-loud picture book perfect for fans of Lyle the Crocodile and Dragons Love Tacos, an alligator family runs into trouble when their son can’t seem to curb his appetite for their new human neighbors.

“A fun and surprising classic picture book appeal threaded with a subversive and sometimes macabre laugh-out-loud text. It’s James Marshall meets Edward Gorey!” —Matthew Cordell, Caldecott Medalist

After Libby and Herbert Alligator’s mom lands her dream job as a pastry chef, the family is moving on up out of the slimy swamp and into a bustling town filled with houses, restaurants, schools . . . and people. Libby can’t wait to meet the new neighbors. Herbert can’t wait to eat them.

And that’s not okay with the folks in the neighborhood, who most certainly do not want to become alligator food. Is there a way for Herbert to fit in while remaining true to who he really is? With a little help from his mom, maybe he can have his friends . . . and eat them, too.

From author-illustrator Daniel J. Mahoney, We Don’t Eat Our Neighbors is a witty, heartfelt story about family, fitting in, and finding happiness in a new community.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374391263
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	08/06/2024
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.40(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.35(d)
Lexile:	AD560L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Daniel J. Mahoney has been writing and drawing stories about animals since he was a kid. When he’s not creating books for young readers, he can be found riding his bike, chasing waterfalls with his hiking club, and zapping people with X-rays at the hospital where he works. He is the author of Monstergarten, as well as the writer and illustrator of other books for children. He grew up in Albany, New York, where he still resides with his amazing offspring, Shay. He’s come close to wanting to eat his neighbors, but opted instead for a good steak.

Editorial Reviews

A Target Book Club Pick

“A fun and surprising classic picture book appeal threaded with a subversive and sometimes macabre laugh-out-loud text. It’s James Marshall meets Edward Gorey!” —Matthew Cordell, Caldecott Medalist

“In guileless line drawings that recall James Marshall’s style, Mahoney follows swamp-based alligator sibs Libby and Herbert as they move to a conventional human suburb . . . In this work of anarchic comedy that moves to a story of empathy, Herbert realizes that following his animalian nature will impact someone he cares about, prompting a transformation that relies, in part, on that loved one’s meeting him halfway.” —Publishers Weekly

"What at first is an amusing fish-out-of-water story with plenty of laughs turns out to be a story full of relevant life lessons about adapting to new environments, struggling to fit in, and learning self-control. With eye-catching, cartoonlike illustrations, and just a few sentences on each page, this book is a winning read-aloud sure to keep readers entertained. A funny tale about an alligator boy learning not to eat his neighbors; perfect for the picture book shelves or even the etiquette section." —School Library Journal

“This silly picture book has a delightfully dark sense of humor that fully leans into its nonsense, sure to make for a lively and laughter-filled story time.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher