Lyle Finds His Mother

Lyle the Crocodile #5

by Bernard Waber

Celebrate the magic of moms on Mother's Day or any day with everyone’s favorite crocodile, Lyle! Lyle leaves his happy home with the Primms to search for his long-lost mother in this 50th anniversary edition paperback edition of Lyle Finds His Mother. Lyle is quite happy living with the Primms on East 88 th Street. Then Hector P. Valenti, struggling star of stage and screen, lures him away with promises of finding his long-lost mother. When Lyle imagines his perfect mother, she looks a lot like Mrs. Primm! But he can't stop wondering about his crocodile mother. This Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile story exudes all of the charm and wit for which the series is loved, along with a lovely message about the joys of family, biological or found.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Family, Humor

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

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

[Rose Gowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son went through a big Lyle phase, but until today, it had been a while since we last read him. So long, that I had forgotten the verbal edits I used to do.

This might be my favorite Lyle. Lyle, Lyle Crocodile and Lovable Lyle are troubling because they both suggest that if someone doesn't like you, you should save their life so they will.

I love that the Primms have entered the 70s in this one-- Mrs. Primm has doffed her frilly apron and donned some pretty fantastic pantsuits, she's also gotten into politics. Mr. Primm is into indoor gardening.

And, Hector P. Valenti, who I always liked, features prominently.

One thing I find intriguing about the whole series is that the important relationship is really between Lyle and Mrs. Primm. She is his protector, and often his voice. She and Lyle's enemies-- Hector P. Valenti, Clover Sue Hipple, Mrs. Hipple, and Mr. Grumps are the only ones who have real speaking parts. Mr. Primm and Joshua (supposedly Lyle's best friend) are hardly there.

So, in this one, Lyle goes off looking for his mother. He hopes she will be just like Mrs. Primm, but it turns out she's just like him.

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Lyle story is a dramatic read. Hector P. Valenti, star of stage and screen, is a bigger jerk than I imagined when he attempts to con Lyle into working for him again by promising to take him to his mother. Lyle has a tumultuous internal conflict as he tries to decide whether or not to leave the family he has found to find his mother. Very stressful. There are some ugly children in this book, but young Lyle is so cute! I love the drawings when he imagines how his mother must have taken care of him.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read aloud! My family loves Lyle!

[Allie Knerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was reading this story I thought it was very nice of Lyle to help out Hector in exchange to find his mother, but I got the impression that Hector did not want to find Lyle's mother after they started performing again because once they got enough money to find Lyle's mother then Lyle would stop preforming with Hector. I thought that was selfish of Hector because he got caught up in having money again when all Lyle wanted to do was find his mother. This book would be goo to have in a 1st-3rd grade classroom, this book is right at their reading level and this book is different in the sense that a crocodile preforms of stage and lives with a human story. Students may find this book funny because crocodiles can't stand, and do summersaults and flips. The illustrations also show the emotion that the charters are felling which gives more details to the story.

[Min · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Fifth in the Lyle Crocodile series.
Lyle's former performance partner Signor Valenti is starving and has a great idea to make money, that is, reunite with Lyle, but how? He resolves to lure him with a letter asking if he would like to meet his mother.
Now, Valenti has been tricky in the past so the Primms try hard to distract Lyle by having him go to school with Joshua, try gardening, and join a political campaign, but to no avail, as all that Lyle can think about is the mother he never knew. As expected, he is tricked into performing so Valenti can get rich, and avoid going to see Lyle' mother, until Lyle simply won't perform anymore without going to see her. They travel many days, and miraculously, they find her because she can do the very same tricks as Lyle. They return to E 88th St.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyle enjoyed his life every day but down the street lived Hector P. Valenti who was feeling miserable and very hungry. Lyle used to perform on stage with him and he wanted that life again. Hector thought of a scheme to get Lyle back and sent him a letter suggesting that he knew where Lyle‘s mother lived and would take him to find her. The Primms, the family that Lyle lived with, didn’t want him to go, but they relented and Hector took Lyle on the road to perform and make money.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hector P. Valenti has fallen on hard times without his work as an entertainer with his partner Lyle. He lures Lyle back with the promise of finding his mother. The book could be used as a read aloud, probably for children age 7 and up, to introduce the concept of people falling on hard times. Ultimately, Lyle's mother is found and she returns with Lyle to the house on 88th Street.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful Lyle story!

Ages: 4 - 8

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Sierra Dirksen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about Lyle who is enjoying life, until his old performance partner tries to trick him into coming to him. He did so by saying he knew lyle's mother. However, even though he did not know Lyle's mother he helped Lyle find out who she was. Overall this book was cute, however, the pictures were outdated and the storyline wasn't very interesting.

[Bryce Decker]

This story is about trusting people and helping friends in need. Lyle trusts his old friend because he says he knows where his mother is. He doesn't but through helping his friend in show business he eventually finds his mother.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Lyle! That dastardly, scheming Mr. Hector P. Valenti. If he only was honest about his dire situation, I feel certain Lyle and his family would help. On the other hand, if not for Valenti's schemes, Lyle would never had a chance at finding his mom.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lyle books are cute, although it's nice if you read them in order so you catch all the little carry-overs from story to story. We are not reading them in order this time around so my kids aren't getting the full enjoyment of the series.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice installment in the Lyle the Crocodile series. This one makes for a very good story, although a little on the sad side.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hector is starving and cons Lyle into performing on stage again. When they earn enough money, they set off in search of Lyle's mother in a country far away.

[Macy Davis]

Read for CHL 403 - Fall 2020

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this to be a bit dull. There are better children's books out there.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this story generally speaking. I liked the pictures. Lyle is also such a likable character.

[Sarah Limb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so cute! I loved how long of a story it was and the ending wrapped itself up very nicely.

[Brian Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like it. I love all the Lyle books, but I really don’t like Hector. I do not like how he makes Lyle feel!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story about Lyle and his mother.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one left me with many questions about Hector Valenti and how he acquired Lyle.

[mahita]

all me and my homies hate hector p valenti 🤬

[Viviana · Rating 2 out of 5]

1-2 stars ..creepy guy should've been put in jail?...:/

[Edward Creter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyle is the classic croc for all ages and I have loved him since I first found him in the library at age 7 and the love affair has only strengthened with time, and now more so now I finally read his discovery of a long lost mom. It's the plot strand the world has waited for! Signor Hector Valenti, former stage and screen legend, is now a poor out-of-work has-been actor feeding pigeons while Lyle the Crocodile plays hopscotch with the neighbor kids, which in real life would cause, eh, some concern with parents of all prejudicial makes but in Lyleworld where all is sweet and sugary (the way us crocodilians like it!), it seems okay. But Hector plots Lyle's downfall by lying about a supposed mother Lyle never knew. So Lyle, sad over an unknown mom, hangs with Hector and lives the actor's life he once knew and then heads for Africa to find mom. Hector belittles Lyle at first by admitting the lie...until the lie becomes truth..and mother appears for real!!! And y'know? It turns out okay once again! I think mommy Croc has appeared thru-out the series from time-to-time, but she is more than welcome in our homes with Lyle anyday! Three cheers for Lyle!

[Lindsey Johnson]

I really did not like the illustration of this book. The colors really do not jump out at you. With the colors and the pictures it looks like the book is an older story. The pictures and words are grouped together so you can tell what picture is going with what words. Some pages have a negative space while the rest all have positive space. All of the textures have a smooth surface by feeling and looking at them. This book does have a dedication page on like one of the very first pages of the book.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

I rediscovered this series of books from my own childhood the last time we visited the library and have to re-read some of them! While the story line was okay, my kiddos didn't fall in love with Lyle like I did. We'll try another 1 or 2 from the series before giving up on them completely.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lyle Finds His Mother by Bernard Waber (HMH Books for Young Readers 1974) (Fiction – Children's). Lyle the Crocodile takes his employer's advice and goes in search of his mother. Poor Lyle! My rating: 7/10, finished 1974.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this installment of the Lyle the Crocodile series, Lyle finds himself wanting to meet his mother after being prompted by a letter from Hector P. Valenti, Star of Stage and Screen. This was cute, Lyle fans will enjoy it.

[Yxiong001]

LEX:560L

[L. Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for adoptive families