Looking you the name of a childrens book?

my niece is 4 and i have been looking for this book in every store. barnes and noble says they never heard of it so i am here. the book starts off with 3 friends playing instruments. they end up on a boat with alligators. they play music to stay alive from being eaten. it sounds horrible but it was a good moral story...if anyone knows what i am talking about please send the name of a book. its old not a new book from 1980's or so if not older...