Description

From beloved picture book author Eve Bunting, a playful story set in a magical swamp about overcoming greed with the power of love, nature, and music.

On the sunny river dock, people pack onto the big tourist boat, waiting for their chance to see the alligators. What they don’t know is that down in the swamp, the alligators are waiting for them too!

Jim and his dad run this tour, and Jim has a special talent to share with the people and creatures of the swamp alike. Animals flock to him to hear his flute-playing—it even makes the alligators dance! His music is so remarkable that a greedy passenger decides he must have Jim's flute. Will one person’s selfishness ruin the magic of the swamp for everyone?

About the Author

Eve Bunting was the beloved, award-winning author of more than two hundred and fifty books for young people, including the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere.

Praise For…

"Cartoon-style digital illustrations portray the alligators as comical creatures with large, luxurious eyelashes. . . . Bunting maintains a steady beat, powering this instructive, low-conflict fable briskly forward." — Publishers Weekly

(Hello Baby, I'm Your Mom) "Bunting’s soothing rhymes are sure to be a favorite refrain." — School Library Journal

(I'm a Duck) "Bunting’s singsong rhymes don’t skip a beat."  — Publishers Weekly

(One Green Apple) "[A] gentle story about being new and different, with the author delivering her message in her classically subtle style."  — Kirkus Reviews

(Being Friends with Dragons) "In bright, cartoonish digital spot drawings, vignettes, and full-page illustrations, Ewen employs an assortment of patterns and textures to visualize the imaginative informational text."  — School Library Journal