Determined to make some money, Jerome the alligator asks his older sister Winifred to let him work for her babysitting service. Reluctant at first, Winifred eventually consents when Mrs. Gatorman—the mother of nine mischievous little gators—calls for a sitter. After all, taking care of those little pranksters might convince her brother to give up babysitting. Jerome is made of stronger stuff however, and after being the victim of a number of pranks from the Gator children, decides it's time to turn the tables...

The first of three picture-books dedicated to the adventures of this little alligator with a can-do attitude—subsequent titles are Jerome and the Witchcraft Kids and Jerome Camps Out—Jerome the Babysitter pairs an engaging story with colorful, humorous illustrations. Author/artist Eileen Christelow is best known as the creator of the immensely popular Five Little Monkeys picture-book series, although my own reading of her work is confined to her stories about that clueless fowl, Glenda Feathers. As it happens, I tracked this one down because of my interest in its sequel, Jerome and the Witchcraft Kids, which I believe has some witchy content (always of interest to me), but I ended up enjoying it for its own sake. Recommended to picture-book readers and listeners who enjoy humorous stories about naughty children (ahem! I mean gators) and the pranks they play. ( )