Our next pick from Kane/Miller is Guji Guji by Guji Guji by Chih Y. Chen of Taiwan. Raised from an egg by Mother Duck, Guji Guji is content with his life as a “crocoduck.” Then one day, he meets up with three big, bad dudes who try to convince him that he is, like them, a duck eating crocodile! What should Guji Guji do? You and the kids will cheer as Guji Guji saves the day and his duck family.

For ages 5 to 9, Guji Guji is a terrific book for unconventional families – single families, gay families, step families, families with adopted or foster children, and families of mixed race or ethnicity. It shows that family is made up of folks who love and care about each other. You don’t have to look like each other or act the same way to be a family. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun to say “Guji Guji” out loud.

And while it was really tempting to give you a recipe for alligator bites or a little gator gumbo, I settled on Alligator Pie.

Alligator Pie
Serves 8

Ingredients:

1. 1 unbaked graham cracker pie crust
2. 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3. 8 ounces sour cream
4. 8 ounces Cool Whip
5. 2 drops of green food coloring

Directions:

1. Mix cream cheese and sour cream well. Add 2 drops of green food coloring. Fold in Cool Whip.
2. Pour into pie crust.
3. Refrigerate for 2 hrs. or overnight.
4. Extra Cool Whip can be added on top and cherries added on top.

(Green tea pie picture courtesy of Nibble & Scribble.)

Alligator pie, alligator pie,
If I don’t get some I think I’m gonna die.
Give away the green grass, give away the sky,
But don’t give away my alligator pie.

Alligator stew, alligator stew,
If I don’t get some I don’t know what I’ll do.
Give away my furry hat, give away my shoe,
But don’t give away my alligator stew.

Alligator soup, alligator soup,
If I don’t get some I think I’m gonna droop.
Give away my hockey stick, give away my hoop,
But don’t give away my alligator soup.

(Dennis Lee – 1974 Alligator Pie)

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