Readers Dessert

Alli the Alligator

Written by Cindy Miller

Illustrated by Joan Coleman

Ages: 4–7 | 32 Pages

Publisher: BookLogix (2026) | ISBN-13: 978-1-6653-1069-7

Publisher’s Book Summary: What happens when being different makes you feel like you don’t belong? Alli Gator loves swimming and playing along the banks of the Rumbly River with her family. When she discovers children nearby, she dreams of going to school just like they do. But being the only alligator in a classroom full of children isn’t easy. On her first day at Swamp Elementary, the other students stare, whisper, and laugh. Just when Alli begins to lose confidence, an unexpected moment reveals her bravery and kindness—and shows everyone that differences can be a gift.

Themes: Kindness and empathy • Bullying and inclusion • Friendship and forgiveness • Confidence and courage • Celebrating differences

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org

DISCLOSURE

This post is sponsored by Cindy Miller in partnership with The Children’s Book Review. The opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.

Behind the Story: Creating a Character Who Doesn’t Fit In

By Cindy Miller

Before I created Alli as a character or even the type of character, my first thoughts were the theme of the book.  Was the theme going to be a playful book with fun characters or a book with a meaning?  I have always been an advocate against bullying and decided I wanted to write a book that incorporated both: playful and a strong message.

I started writing this book with no idea on how it would end.  I just went with the flow of the book.  But in my dream when God gave me the message to write this, I felt like He was telling me that the character should be an alligator and it should be a girl alligator.  I could not get this off my mind and starting developing the scene more than the character initially.

Alli could have been any animal or any person and deliver the same message.  However, the more I thought about the differences of an alligator to a human, it became clearer that this would be the direction I wanted to pursue.  I began thinking about animated films I had seen with alligators in various poses; even standing up and my mind starting creating all of these situations.

Afterall, an alligator is green.  Humans are not green.  An alligator has a long tail.  Humans do not have a long tail.  An alligator has a long snout.  Humans do not have a long snout.  This continued with many more comparisons. Then I felt like if I could get Alli to interact with humans, there would be so many situations I could create that would involve bullying and differences.  This is much like what we continue to fight with our society today.

At this point, I needed a situation where they were forced to interact.  My alligator was not going to be a mean animal but much like a human with human emotions and kindness.  I felt like going to a school with each other would be the perfect setting for this.  Haven’t we all felt intimidated going into a new situation; especially when it is the first day and you are the new person?

At this point, I am working focusing on the overall development of Alli the Alligator.  I wanted to show she basically had a great home life.  She had a great and loving father and mother, a brother, and even a grandfather she looked up to.  She was smart, playful, kind, and extremely eager to fit in.  She was brave because this is something she wanted to do which is going out on a limb and taking a chance that she would be liked.

I wanted to show that her father was hesitant because he knew the possibilities that this event could be emotionally devastating to his young daughter exactly like how we try and protect our children and our parents tried to protect us. 

In creating Alli, I wanted to show that she was somewhat naïve about what she was getting into. I wanted to show that she was vulnerable without knowing she was.  That would make the bullying even more impactful.  But I also wanted to show that she was fun and not just a target.  It was fun for me to write the ending of the story which shows Alli as happy, proud of herself, and a hero to her classmates and the town.

Finally, I knew that in creating this character, I had to create an animated character that was unique and very recognizable to anyone; especially children.  I had to find an illustrator who would share my vision of what Alli herself looked like.  I knew I had to show all the different sides of Alli in illustrations.  After much research and interviews, I was blessed to find my illustrator who captured exactly what I wanted.

Thus, Alli the Alligator who doesn’t fit in was created.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cindy Miller is a first-time children’s book author from Columbus, Georgia. A proud graduate of the University of Georgia, Cindy has long been passionate about the social and emotional well-being of both children and senior adults. With Alli the Alligator, she brings that passion to the page in a heartwarming story about courage, kindness, and finding where you belong.

To learn more, visit allithealligatorbook.com.

GIVEAWAY

Readers who follow along on this virtual book tour will have the chance to win a hardcover copy of Alli the Alligator by Cindy Miller—a heartwarming story about courage, kindness, and belonging to add to their bookshelf.

TOUR SCHEDULE