Fall 2026 Children's Preview: Middle Grade - Publisher's Weekly "An anxious Canadian boy finds his footing helping out on his aunt's goat farm. Summer has just started, and 9-year-old Belvin Bowmeister has a list of worries. Two of the top six concern alligators, along with making decisions and being late. His more confident twin brother, Beaman, will be attending summer camp this year while Belvin, on his own for the first time, is joining Aunt Edna on her rural goat farm in Saskatchewan. After some initial bumps, Belvin is surprised at how much he enjoys spending time with the goats (and the rabbits and the donkey) as he becomes adept at mucking stalls and wrangling the local daycare kids who visit. Belvin and Ellie, a neighbor girl his own age, become fast and supportive friends, bonding over a plan to help Aunt Edna, drowning under the weight of bills, save the farm. Aunt Edna's optimism and quiet good sense make her an ideal foil for shy, insecure Belvin, who obsessively ponders and researches apex predators, one of his greatest fears. Belvin's thoughts and emotions feel believable as he realizes he likes his new independence and opens up to Ellie about his biological father, whom he's never met.
The concepts of animal birth and death are deftly handled as Belvin comes to terms with the circle of life. Rich vocabulary paired with brisk pacing keeps things lively. Characters' physical descriptors are minimal. Poignant, uplifting, and humorous. (information on mountain lions and other apex predators)." -- K irkus Reviews "FINAL VERDICT: This is a great book for kids who love nature and animals and those who may suffer from similar anxieties. It is important to talk about it and this can help kids deal with their fears. Belvin and Ellie are very similar and I loved how they were able to open up to each other.
An entertaining and thoughtful book. Highly recommended." -- YA Books Central "My daughter and I read What If There Are Alligators together, and we both really enjoyed it. We loved following Belvin's summer adventure on the goat farm as he stepped out of his twin brother's shadow, faced his fears, and discovered his own strengths. The story has a great mix of humor, adventure, and heart, and the goats and new friendships made it even more fun. It's a wonderful middle grade read about growing up, building confidence, and learning that it's okay to follow your own path. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance review copy in exchange for my honest review." --NetGalley Review.