Brilliantly written and illustrated * Love It *
[A] well-crafted story about facing down fear * The Guardian *
An amusing and tension-filled tale that turns tail and runs on adrenaline power until the very end * The Lady *
This is a class act * Times Educational Supplement *
A great read aloud and a good giggle * Publishers Weekly *
An extremely well written and well designed picture book which will be relished by both young children and the adults who share it with them * Carousel *
Nick Maland's clever perspectives make the alligator increasingly alarming as he swells to fill more and more of the page in this well-created story of facing down fear. * The Guardian *
Using elements of rhythm and rhyme as well as an enjoyably predicable question-and-answer refrain the text maintains a playful tone beneath the scary details... Expressive line drawings, brightened with watercolour washes, illustrate the story with wit and style... good fun. * Booklist *
Mara Bergman and Nick Mayland tell an amusing and tension-filled tale that turns tail and runs on adrenaline power until the very end. The illustrations add to the appeal of this book. * The Lady *
Here's a picture book which, read aloud, will transform any teacher into a star performer; the fanciful situation, rhythmic text, onomatopoeic words, graphic clues for varying verbal volume and masterly cartooning guarantee this is a class act. The young audience can enjoy a delicious dose of the horrors, while learning that, when afraid, it's best to face up to your fears. * TES *
Deliciously scary, but with the obligatory happy ending, this bold and colourful picture book will be real hit with those coming up to school-age. * Carousel *
While Bergman's rhythmic vocal text propels the story forward, it is Nick Maland's illustrations, watercolour on photocopied drawings, that actually provide the book's suspenseful foundation. * NY Times *
....extremely well written and well designed picture book which will be relished by both young children and the adults who share it with them. * Carousel *
One of CCBC Choices for 2006 (Cooperative Children's Book Center's annual best of the year list. ) * CCBC *
...for its youthful audience it becomes a gripping saga of danger and heroism; children dealing with their own imaginary monsters may benefit from a few storytimes with this lively teaching tale. * Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 2005 *
To accompany this lively text, Maland creates pictures that not only mirror the writing, but also offer humor and fun on each page... Reading this picture book aloud is great fun for the reader and listener. * Parents' Choice Foundation 2005 *
An infectious chime-in makes this the spunkiest read-aloud we've found in a long time. * Halfway Down the Stairs, Michigan USA *
This terrific edge-of-your-seat read-aloud will have young listeners holding their breath as the alligator gets closer and closer, licking his lips. * The Bookcase of Wanzata, Minnesota, USA *
PRAISE FOR YOU'VE GOT DRAGONS - illustrated by Nick Maland
My favourite picture book of the year - The Glasgow Herald
Remarkable - The Sunday Times