Submitted by Connie Herbon, Iowa

Idea posted July 18, 2003

With my 2nd/3rd grade performance of "See You Later" (from Music K-8, Vol. 13, No. 5) successfully finished, I thought I'd share a cute picture book I came across and will purchase for use with the song in future years.

The book is See You Later, Alligator! by Laura McGee Kvasnosky (1995, Harcourt Books). There are other authors for the same title, but this is the only one I've liked so far. It begins with a young alligator being delivered to the first day of school and goes through lots of cute word plays, similar to the song's humor.

I think my preschoolers and kindergartners will really relate to the story and illustrations and I am quite sure they'll be able to echo the phrases of the song with the help of the Music K-8 recording. I'll also create other alligator activities appropriate to the ages and abilities of my students when the time comes.