Looking for a book with black and white line art, pre 1990's. An alligator who is a sailor and wears a pea-coat (and maybe a wool hat?) has an adventure and finds a pirate treasure. There are puffins in the story that eat fish, smoke pipes, and wear wool hats.
The alligator and his Uncle Tooth: a novel of the sea (1977) Geoffrey Hayes
A shy young alligator meets his Uncle Tooth, a crusty ex-sea captain, who tells him of his many adventures at sea.
There’s also a few more titles featuring Otto and Uncle Tooth in the ‘First stepping stone book’ and “step into reading’ series.