Exca-Gator! -- Brooke Hartman, Hardcover

He's an alligator . . . he operates an excavator . . . he is EXCA-GATOR!

An adorable picture book perfect for fans of Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and Crocodiles Need Kisses Too!

In the deepest jungle swamp,
Where the beasties howl and stomp,
From a little swamp home door,
Comes a mighty gator ROAR!

Exca-Gator is so excited for a new day of building and constructing with all of his buds! He may be even a little too excited, when he overestimates his abilities and causes a big old construction site mess. Can Exca-Gator make things right with his friends and save the day?

Told in rhythmic bouncing rhyme from Brooke Hartman and with gorgeous playful art from prolific picture book illustrator Michael Slack, this book is a can't-miss pick for any young readers who love books about construction vehicles and adorable animals.

Author: Brooke Hartman
Publisher: Flamingo Books
Published: 02/17/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
ISBN: 9780593693339
Audience: Ages 4-8

About the Author
Brooke Hartman is an Alaskan mom who seriously loves to write not-so-serious books for kids. Her writing has garnered multiple awards, including honors from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Writer's Digest, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and the Alaska Writers Guild. Her debut picture book, Dream Flights on Arctic Nights, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, while her 2020 release, Lotte's Magical Paper Puppets: The Woman Behind the First Animated Feature Film was a Poetry and Pose First Edition Book Club selection. Her latest, Klyde the Kraken Wants a Friend, is outfrom Hazy Dell Press. Brooke also serves as an occasional instructor of writing for Alaska Pacific University and member of the board of directors for the Alaska Writers Guild, and was an SCBWI Tribute Fund Scholarship Recipient. When she isn't writing, you can find her flying, fishing, and having fun with her family, enjoying all the magic life has to offer. Learn more at BrookeAHartman.com, or on social media at @BrookesBooksAK.

Michael Slack is an artist, illustrator, character designer, and award-winning app designer. He has illustrated many funny picture books, including Kitties on Dinosaurs, which he also authored, and the Nugget and Fang books by Tammi Sauer. He lives with his family in the San Francisco Bay area.