Alfie the Mouse and Fred the Alligator Stories

Neil lives in Colorado with his wonderful wife Julie, both enjoying their retirement amidst the splendor and amenities of the Rocky Mountains. They are blessed with an awesome son, Scott, an amazing daughter, Elisa, and an incredible daughter-in-law, Ellie. They all, and so many others, contributed greatly to these retelling of Neil’s stories from so long ago. 

Neil first told the stories of Alfie the Mouse to a friend’s young daughter as they drove in a big box truck from Wyoming to Colorado in the summer of 1979. For some reason, forgotten, he wrote them down, and then forgot about them. Some 17 years later (1993), he made up stories about an alligator named Fred that he told at bedtime to his son. For some reason, forgotten, he wrote them down, and then forgot about them. Then a few years later (1995), he found the Alfie stories, and told them, along with new ones he made up, at bedtime to his daughter. He wrote them down and then forgot about them. And now, a quarter of century later, Neil has reprised his stories with illustrations made with various digital art tools. His “writer’s journey” has been long and winding, and so very rewarding. He hopes you enjoy his stories as much as he has enjoyed writing and illustrating them for you. 

nkle, Tinkle. The sound of the small silver bell brings a smile to everyone’s face, wiping away tears, brightening the day and instilling hope. This is a story about a little field mouse, a little girl and selfless giving.

 First told August 1979, retold (many times, beginning April 1995) and finally published with illustrations in 2024.
 

Available on Amazon and Apple Books and Barnes & Noble

Watch and listen to the Read-Aloud Book on YouTube - Coming Soon

A poor little mouse, separated from friends and family, is lost in a dark, windy, cold and forbidding forest. Frightened and alone, she is befriended by a woodland fairy. Helped and encouraged by the fairy, the little mouse finds her way home, and along the way, learns the secret of the rainbow. 

First told August 1979, retold (many times, beginning May 1995) and finally published with illustrations in 2025. 

Available Spring 2025.

On her way to breakfast, our little field mouse, Alfie, encounters one tiger after another on the path! One’s going to market. One’s staying home. One’s having uhmm, uhmm, Alfie for breakfast? 

First told March 2000 (and retold many times) and finally published with illustrations in 2025. 

Available Fall 2025.

Evening turns to night and the mist rises in the swamp. Fred the Alligator is depressed – he didn’t get to play his boo trick even once today. Suddenly, a giant, noisy swamp monster emerges in the moonlight. Fred is alarmed! Should he fight? Should he flee? Wait! Why is a toucan riding atop the monster, shouting directions to steer left, steer right?

First told May 1993 and published with illustrations in 2025.

Available Spring 2025

Fred the Alligator and the Racing Zebras (First told October 1993)

Fred the Alligator and Saggy Baggy Elephant (First told January 1994)

Fred the Alligator and the Ghost of Blackbeard the Pirate (First told February 1995)

Fred the Alligator and the Homeless Zoo Animals (First told January 1999)

Fred the Alligator and the Circus Train (First told February 1999)

Fred the Alligator and the Hawk Who Learns to be Nice, with Alfie the Mouse (First told August 1999)