Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

Lyle the Crocodile #2

by Bernard Waber

Everyone in the neighborhood loves Lyle the crocodile—except for a cranky neighbor and his nervous cat! Can lovable Lyle make everything right with his grumpy neighbors? A beloved classic read-aloud—now a major motion picture! Lyle the crocodile lives in a house on East 88th Street in New York City. Lyle enjoys helping the Primm family with everyday chores, and playing with the neighborhood kids. He’s the happiest crocodile any home ever had…until one neighbor insists that Lyle belongs in a  zoo!  Mr. Grumps and his cat, Loretta, don't like crocodiles, and everything Lyle does to win them over seems to go wrong. It will take all of Lyle’s charm—and courage—to reveal the hero, and friend, behind the big, crocodile smile.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Classics, Humor, Fantasy

48 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1965

About the author

Bernard Waber was the youngest in a creative family. At age 8, he ushered in a movie theater after school, so he often saw only the last ten minutes of a movie. He made a game of inventing beginnings and middles. When he returned from a tour of duty in World War II, he entered the Philadelphia College of Art. With a diploma and a new wife, he traveled to New York City, where he began working for the Condé Nast magazines as an illustrator. Reading books to his three children inspired him to apply his pen and ink and watercolor style to his own picture books. His first book, Lorenzo, was built in 1961. Today, his characters are some of the most beloved in the library. He and his wife, Ethel, live on Long Island.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw that there will be a movie based on the book, I remembered reading this wonderful story many years ago with my children and how much they liked it. Lyle the crocodile is a lovable, endearing animal who lives with his human family on East 88th Street in New York. Everyone who meets Lyle falls in love with him. Everyone except his neighbor, Mr. Grumps and Loretta, his cat. Will Mr. Grumps and Loretta ever be friends with Lyle?

This is a heartwarming story of friendship, kindness, gentleness, and heroism that would be great to read aloud with children!

[Chance Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another charming and lovingly illustrated book in which Lyle has to save some asshole's life to stop them from harassing him.

[Adriana Scarpin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Essa semana estreia nos cinemas norte-americanos a adaptação de Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. Lyle é protagonista de uma série de livrinhos escritos por Bernard Waber, dos quais só li esse segundo porque não me chamou tanta atenção assim para que eu continuasse os lendo, mas quem sabe uma adaptação como musical não se elabore de forma mais divertida? A quem quero enganar, acho que a minha falta de admiração recai no fato que o "vilão" do livro só queria proteger seu gato do crocodilo.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

2010: Mr. Grumps hates Lyle, who lives with the Primm family, because he frightens his cat. After Lyle has an adventure in the department store, Mr. Grumps manages to get Lyle locked up in the zoo. Luckily he gets the green light to come back home before he escapes to Australia.

I loved this book. The pictures are charming. I love the color scheme, the bold lines, and the way Lyle sticks out. Oddly enough, my 7-month-old baby was completely charmed and giggled her way through the pictures.

[Lily · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is just a mess of a book. We picked it up at a thrift store, and maybe it's part of a series that would make more sense if read sequentially - but as a stand alone, it's disjointed and boring. The text hops around, it's sometimes overly wordy and other times not descriptive enough. There is nothing to cause me to suspend my disbelief about a humanoid-ish(?) crocodile ... It doesn't seem that Lyle can talk, but he can help a child with homework, go shopping, and do an entertaining "act" (with a strange guy who pops up out of the blue, but with whom Lyle has some type of deep and conflicted history)? He is crocodile enough to fit in at the zoo, with the exception of being considered to be obnoxious by the other crocodiles, yet he lives with humans and expresses human emotions (and no one seems to notice how odd that is except for the bigot down the street)? Bizarre and trippy - I suggest avoiding it and reading something else instead.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange story about an anthropomorphic rendering of a crocodile. He walks on his hind legs, dances, ice skates and shops at a department store. Of course there is a bit of drama and the crocodile is a hero. It is a bit long, but overall, it's a fun story. I remember this book from my childhood, but it wasn't one of my favorites. Nor do I think it will be a favorite for our girls.

We borrowed this book from our local library as part of a paperback book and CD kit. The book has an ISBN 13 9780395137208 and the CD is narrated by the author, Bernard Waber.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting over the fact that Lyle was a crocodile, which, according to the Who Would Win: Ocean Rumble book, is the most fearsome animal of the seas. So I sympathized more with the "mean" neighbor in this book! If you like crocodiles and think they are cute, you will like this book.

[Tots R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber Picture Book

This is one of the five books I purchased from Amazon for my daycare library. A cranky neighbor puts Lyle in the zoo but experiences a change of heart when the crocodile saves him from a fire. Splish Splash Splish Splash Lyle The crocodile. Lyle The crocodile loved living with the Primm family and their son Joshua. Lyle loved to help Joshua Brush up on his school work. He loves to help out with many things and he is loved. Overall I would have to say Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is good booking the kids and I really enjoyed it. I would recommend this book for children ages 3& up. After reading this book I allowed my daycare children to make Crocodiles out of construction paper and washable paint. They painted the crocodile’s green and we added eyes that move around when you move. When you add activities to story time kids have something to look forward to while reading. When I pull out a book my kids starts screaming were going to do activities and read. It melts my heart to know they my children love story time and that I am able to make that time and enjoyment for them.

[Victor The Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (My Kindle Review)

The follow up to “East 88th Street” now sees the Primm family and their loving crocodile Lyle return with a new problem: their neighbor Mr. Grump and his cat Loretta. It’s another winning book that’ll once again see Lyle bring separated but reunited again with his family, a new friend and learning not to judge a book by its cover, or scales 🐊. A- (91%/Excellent)

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

heh heh heh now that I'm working in a Children's department, you better believe I'm going to start adding children's books. But I won't count them towards my yearly goal, how's that.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally read this. Or, finally reread it? I love saying the title as a sort of nonsense murmur. And the book and the illustrations are certainly nonsense... perhaps in a good way? I just don't know... I think this is better appreciated by encountering it first as a child, especially as a city child who doesn't know of any large animal outside of the zoo. Somehow it reminds me a bit of Moon Man but that I do love and reread often.

[Sonya Huser · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first Lyle book I've read. Some parts are a little weird unless you've read the other Lyle books that came before. Lyle the family pet causes trouble without meaning to for his neighbor, who gets him committed to the zoo. Lyle doesn't belong and escapes, though fears he'll still never be able to go back home. When he rescues his neighbor from a fire, he is able to return to his old neighborhood and makes new friends in the process.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop! Freeze - right where you are! Now see this book? Now see your empty hands? This books needs to be in your hands pronto, with your kiddos gathered around, because the 10 to 15 minutes it takes to read this will be positively delightful! You'll thank me, way before you've turned the last page, for stopping you in your tracks like this.

You'll all love Lyle. He'll charm his way into your heart, just like he does his unsuspecting neighbor. The pictures are a real treat too!

Ages 4+

[midnightfaerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Our first Lyle book was kinda cute, but I think he's starting to lose his luster. We read so much, we really need something different for us to stay hooked. My 3 yr old twins weren't interested at all, and my 5 yr old somewhat enjoyed the story. Somewhere around a level 2 reading book, this might be good for new readers wanting to read on their own.

[Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because the cover was reminiscent of my childhood in the school library. It is just the right combination of silly and serious. Even though Lyle is a crocodile living in the city, there are enough red flags from the people in the community that the book doesn’t become ridiculous—it’s an emotional roller coaster, full of fun and redemption.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I missed Lyle as a child, but rather made up for it in my enthusiasm as a parent.

[Kelsey Ruggirello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about not judging a book by its cover. Mr. Grumps judged the crocodile before knowing him but then realized how brave and kind he was when he rescued him from Mr. Grumps smoking house.

[Ronan Crutchfield]

I wasn’t very interested in this book

[Steve Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bernard Waber was one of the very best, in my opinion, when creating imaginative and compelling stories that kids relate to. Ira Sleeps Over ranks as one of my favorites, if not #1. Most people might connect Waber with this one, however, as Lyle is widely read and available in classrooms and libraries. I love the look and the writing style of Waber, and there are always scenes in his stories that stick with me!

[Mommywest · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever, cute story about Lyle, a crocodile that lives with the Primm family on East 88th Street, and the trouble he faces because of a grumpy neighbor. The pictures are charming, and it's fun to catch a glimpse of the past. I always appreciate an author that doesn't dumb down the vocabulary for children, but rather writes in a way that the words can be easily understood and assimilated.

[Mindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book on my second-third grader's summer reading list, I admit I thought it would be far too easy a read. Not so! The vocabulary is advanced and the story engaging. The simply colored illustrations are charming and do not detract from the story.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an older book so there's a lot of text compared to more modern stories. Since it's on the wordy side it's probably better for older preschoolers.

Lyle the crocodile is sweet and the book has its funny moments.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always liked the Lyle Crocodile books! I just recently re-read this particular one and continued to be entertained. I later read it to my grandchildren who had never heard it before and they enjoyed the fantasy plot of Lyle and Loretta's conflicts.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to purchase and read this book to my Munchkins who hadn't read it before. Nor had my husband. Growing up I enjoyed the series and returning to it was like a warm hug. I'm going to have to reread them all.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a childhood favorite of mine.

[Linda (Miss Greedybooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this one - made into a cartoon - I can still sing the song.

"Don't leave me now..."

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grading it as the theatre show, rather than the children's book. Great adaptation by Kevin Kling. Very funny. Love the adult humor added to the script for parents and friends of children.

[Boom! · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is hit or miss with my kids. We've read it several times over the last few months and they either like it or get bored after the second page.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyle ages gracefully over the years. Once kids are introduced to him, they fall in love with him too!

[Melissa Salazar-Mendibles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this with Mikey to get ready for the movie.