Alligator Pie facts for kids
Alligator Pie cover
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| Author | Dennis Lee |
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| Illustrator | Frank Newfeld |
| Cover artist | Frank Newfeld |
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Poetry |
| Genre | Children's |
| Publisher | Macmillan Publishers |
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Publication date
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1974 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 64 |
| ISBN | 978-1-55263-338-0 |
| OCLC | 46617830 |
| Preceded by | Civil Elegies and Other Poems |
| Followed by | Nicholas Knock and Other People |
Alligator Pie is a famous book of poems for kids. It was first published in 1974. Dennis Lee wrote the poems, and Frank Newfeld drew the pictures. This book was so popular that it won the Book of the Year award in 1975. Because of this book, Dennis Lee became known as "Canada's Father Goose"!
Contents
About the Poems
Alligator Pie is filled with fun and silly poems. Many of the poems are about places and things in Canada. This makes the book special for Canadian kids.
Here are some of the well-known poems from the book:
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How the Book Was Made
I wrote Alligator Pie one day riding on a bike where we lived. My feet went around the pedals of the bike, and I started hearing these nutty words. Alligator Pie.
Dennis Lee started writing these poems because his daughter wanted a bedtime story. He knew many nursery rhymes, but he wanted something special for Canadian children. He thought, "None of them seemed right for a small Canadian about to go off to sleep."
His two daughters were the first to hear the poems. They liked the "silly words" but wished there were pictures. It took Dennis Lee nine years to finish the whole book! Macmillan Publishers released the book in 1974. Frank Newfeld created all the wonderful illustrations.
Stage and Screen Adaptations
Alligator Pie has been turned into plays and even a short film. These adaptations bring the poems to life in new ways.
Stage Plays
Theatre Passe Muraille has created stage plays based on the book since 1974. These plays combine characters, stories, music, and movement. They weave everything together to make a fun show.
In 1984, a play was performed in Vancouver. Children in the Lower Mainland area were invited to send in their own Alligator Pie artwork. Kids from preschool to sixth grade could submit any two-dimensional art.
Short Film
In 1991, Alligator Pie became a short film. It used puppets made by Jani Lauzon. CBC Television showed the film in 1992 during its Family Hour.
The film mixes live action with claymation and puppets. A newspaper, the Times Colonist, said it was a "masterful adaptation" of Lee's poems. The film was released on VHS in 1991 and later on DVD in 2011.
Celebrity Readings
In 2013, many Canadian celebrities read the poem Alligator Pie. Their readings were put together into one video. Famous people like Sarah McLachlan, Carly Rae Jepsen, Steve Nash, and Elisha Cuthbert took part.
This video first appeared on Amazon Canada's website. For every book by Dennis Lee sold, one dollar was donated to a children's book program. This program helps send authors and illustrators to schools and libraries across Canada. Later, the video was shared on YouTube and Facebook.
Musical Production
In 2017, the Soulpepper Theatre Company created a musical play of Alligator Pie. It was performed in New York City. The play was about 55 minutes long.
A reviewer named Deb Miller said the show was great for all ages. She wrote that it was full of "inventiveness, enthusiasm, and talent." She felt it was a "joyful" and "delectable" show.
