Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever (Probably)

The chaotic story of Snappsy the alligator continues (Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book!), 2016).

In this, the chicken narrator insinuates itself even further into Snappsy’s life, with a very clear motive: the chicken wants to be Snappsy’s BFF. In fact, in the chicken’s mind, they already are: “We met at a party. And now we do everything together.” Readers will guess from the illustrations—and it’s later confirmed in a hysterical outburst from Snappsy—that the chicken never left Snappsy’s house after inviting itself to his party in the last episode. Snappsy is the same reluctant subject, at the mercy of the chicken’s warped worldview no matter how much he tries to correct it: “Actually, I’m going into town. To run errands. By myself.” The chicken is not deterred, sure they are shopping for another party. That’s what BFFs do. They even have matching shirts, “Snappsy” and “Bert,” which prompts a dry but profound exchange: “You never told me you had a name,” wonders Snappsy. “You never asked,” replies Bert. Falatko and Miller brilliantly add depth to the characters’ story arc. Children gain insight into Bert’s motives and see what a difference Bert is making in Snappsy’s quiet life. Upon reconsideration, Snappsy invites Bert to a sleepover, and Bert enthusiastically hijacks the storyline again: “They had such a wonderful time that they decided Bert should move in.”

We can’t wait!

If you missed last year’s Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book!), you missed one of the year’s funniest picture books. So, go find a copy, and then, come early October, find the sequel, Snappsy the Alligator and His Best Friend Forever (Probably). Poor Snappsy. He’s still just trying to live his fairly secluded, introverted life, but that chicken is back, narrating Snappsy’s life, embellishing and exaggerating all the while. In fact, we learn later, the chicken never actually left the party at Snappsy’s house, the one we read about in book one. (I love this. We all have a friend like this.) This tension between what Snappsy wants and what the chicken is dictating is funny stuff, just as it was in the first book. But in this one, we learn a bit more about the two and are even left with another cliffhanger: “They had such a wonderful time that they decided Bert should move in,” the narrator declares at the end.

Speaking of Bert, the book’s most laugh-out loud moment is when the chicken puts on a shirt that says “BERT.” “Who’s Bert?” Snappsy asks. “Me. I am,” says the chicken. “You never told me you had a name,” says Snappsy. “You never asked,” the chicken replies. This manages to be funny as hell and a tender kind of sad, both at the same time.

The grumpy gator of Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) (2016) returns for further botheration at the hands—well, wings—of the visiting chicken who has unilaterally decided that they are BFFs. Being followed around the house (even into the bathroom) and out on errands is trying enough, but when the chicken, whose name turns out to be Bert, enthusiastically announces that they’re having a sleepover with party games and pizza hats, Snappsy snaps. Sternly ordered to leave, Bert reluctantly departs (not far: in Miller’s simply drawn cartoon illustrations, he can be seen hanging around the yard and peering in the windows), and Snappsy settles down to enjoy some peace and quiet. A little while later, he concedes defeat, and muttering “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” he invites Bert back—not just for a party but to move in permanently: “Turns out, it’s more fun with you around.” Another same-sex odd couple, joining the likes of Frog and Toad, to explore nuances of character and friendship.