Al Alligator and How He Learned to Play the Banjo
New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1947. Story and Pictures by W. J. Pat Enright. Half title p. with a special illustration and signature in brown ink by the author/illustrator. First edition. Small 4to. 10" x 7". Pictorial orange cloth. 98 pp. This charming book is clean and tight and in near fine condition BUT for the fact that a previous owner affixed the protective dust jacket cover to the pastedown endpapers, both front and back. Attempt at removal has already lifted some of the paper on the pictorial endpapers. Also, for some weird reason someone pasted a newspaper photo of alligators on the verso of the free front endpaper leaving a phantom on the page with the signed illustration! Sigh! / Dust jacket is sturdy but spine is faded. 1/2" chip at top of spine; a little minor chipping at bottom of spine and fold corners. Two diagonal creases across top panel. Overall very good. Item #992
The amusing and appealing story of a Florida Everglades alligator who, under the patient guidance of kindly old Uncle Joe, learns how to play the banjo and to sing with a TREMENDOUS voice. Al Alligator joins the circus at Sarasota and becomes the most ASTOUNDING attraction it has ever had. Millions of people throughout the country swarm to see and hear him and he receives a SUPER salary. However, before the season is over he and Uncle Joe grow so homesick that they insist on leaving the circus and retiring from public life. Al Alligator and Uncle Joe buy their native Florida swampland and make it a refuge for wildlife and a "rest home" for the mischievous monkeys and assorted weary animals from the circus. Life is full of fun and adventure for Al and his friends, from PRODIGIOUS picnics to STUPENDOUS snake battles to MAGNIFICENT moonlight son sessions to - a GRAND 'GATOR CHORUS ALL Al's OWN! The author's many delightful drawings help swing along the story to perfection. A perfect read-aloud book for parents and children from 7 up.
Dust jacket has price of $1.50.
Price: $150.00