Early praise for What If There Are Alligators?Fall 2026 Children's Preview: Middle Grade – Publisher’s Weekly“An anxious Canadian boy finds his footing helping out on his aunt’s goat farm. Summer has just started, and 9-year-old Belvin Bowmeister has a list of worries. Two of the top six concern alligators, along with making decisions and being late. His more confident twin brother, Beaman, will be attending summer camp this year while Belvin, on his own for the first time, is joining Aunt Edna on her rural goat farm in Saskatchewan. After some initial bumps, Belvin is surprised at how much he enjoys spending time with the goats (and the rabbits and the donkey) as he becomes adept at mucking stalls and wrangling the local daycare kids who visit. Belvin and Ellie, a neighbor girl his own age, become fast and supportive friends, bonding over a plan to help Aunt Edna, drowning under the weight of bills, save the farm. Aunt Edna’s optimism and quiet good sense make her an ideal foil for shy, insecure Belvin, who obsessively ponders and researches apex predators, one of his greatest fears. Belvin’s thoughts and emotions feel believable as he realizes he likes his new independence and opens up to Ellie about his biological father, whom he’s never met. The concepts of animal birth and death are deftly handled as Belvin comes to terms with the circle of life. Rich vocabulary paired with brisk pacing keeps things lively. Characters’ physical descriptors are minimal. Poignant, uplifting, and humorous. (information on mountain lions and other apex predators).” —Kirkus Reviews"An engaging and fun story Lots of information for animal lovers."—YA Books Central (★★★★★)"My daughter and I read What If There Are Alligators? together, and we both really enjoyed it. We loved following Belvin's summer adventure on the goat farm as he stepped out of his twin brother's shadow, faced his fears, and discovered his own strengths. The story has a great mix of humor, adventure, and heart, and the goats and new friendships made it even more fun. It’s a wonderful middle grade read about growing up, building confidence, and learning that it’s okay to follow your own path. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy in exchange for my honest review." —NetGalley Review"I read this with my 8-year-old granddaughter, and we both really enjoyed it. Living in Florida, we're pretty used to seeing alligators, so we had to laugh at Belvin's constant worry about them. It made for some fun conversations while we were reading together. Beyond the alligator jokes, this turned out to be a really sweet story about facing fears, building confidence, and discovering that you're stronger than you think. Belvin spends the summer on his aunt's goat farm while his twin brother heads off to camp, and watching him grow more independent was rewarding from beginning to end. My granddaughter loved all the animals, especially the goats, and I appreciated how naturally the story encouraged conversations about anxiety, trying new things, and believing in yourself without ever feeling preachy. This is a wonderful middle grade read that's perfect for independent readers or as a family read-aloud. It has plenty of heart, a few laughs, and a message that kids can easily connect with. We both enjoyed our time with Belvin, and it's a book I'd happily recommend to families with elementary-aged readers." — NetGalley Review"Very sweet story of self-discovery and finding your place.. Brenna creates a world that makes you want it to be summer forever. Great for a classroom read aloud!" —NetGalley Review"This was such an adorable children’s book. I loved how it captured the way kids’ imaginations can turn worries into something huge and overwhelming. The story handled those “what if” fears with humor, warmth, and reassurance, making it a great read for children who sometimes get stuck in anxious thoughts. The illustrations and message made this one easy to enjoy together." —NetGalley Review"What a fun read! You feel as if you are at Aunt Edna’s farm with Belvin and all the animals. Belvin’s twin brother is going to camp, his Pops is going away, and mom wants to write a book. Belvin isn’t happy about going to aunt’s. What if there are alligators there? When he’s there she tells him the chores he will be helping her with, and then they can go swimming at a swimming hole. Again, Belvin worries about alligators. His aunt says we’re too far north for them. One day when two groups come to play with the goats and feed them, Belvin meets Ellie and she decides she wants to volunteer while her mom is busy teaching yoga. They get the idea to do goat yoga and his aunt is thrilled. The money will help her farm out. People love the goat yoga. Weeks later when Belvin’s mom calls she wants him to come home because everyone else is now home. He realizes he’s not ready to go home. Will he be allowed to stay? Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own. —NetGalley Review
