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Award-winning author Beverley Brenna, delivers a very funny middle-grade novel. Belvin enjoys his summer at Aunt Edna's goat farm, where he learns the unexpected joys of farming!
Nine-year-old Belvin has lived in the shadow of his gregarious twin brother who is determined to go to summer camp—where Belvin doesn’t want to go. His biological father has disappeared; his mother longs to be a novelist; and his stepfather Pops is bent on an independent summer trip to Copenhagen. What’s Belvin to do but spend the summer on his aunt’s goat farm? There he learns a lot of new things about raising goats, making friends, facing his fears, and, ultimately, how to trust himself.
Belvin’s deep-seated fear of alligators began in childhood, although living on the prairies makes confronting one unlikely, he has cultivated a fascination for all apex predators. His overblown terror fades as he spends the summer learning to be onhis own without following behind his twin brother. Belvin thrives in this new environment: doing heavy farm work; hanging out with the goats; and making friends with a neighbour girl. In the end, Belvin shows thoughtful and quick-witted decision making as he rises to a particularly frightening situation and saves the day.
A thoughtful and funny tale of Belvin’s crazy summer vacation where he grows through new experiences, finds unexpected bravery, and ultimately realizes that everyone is different and can follow their own path.
"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