Guide Note

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is a picture book by Bernard Waber about a house-dwelling crocodile put in the Central Park Zoo by a grouchy neighbor.

Fast Facts

1. Author: Bernard Waber
2. Genre: Picture Book
3. Publication Date: 1962
4. Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
5. Pages: 46 (Paperback edition)
6. ISBN 0395137209 (Paperback edition)
7. Reading Level: 4 - 8
8. Adaptations: Lyle, Lyle Crocodile (play)
9. Sequel to The House on 88th Street

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile is the story of a bipedal crocodile that lives with the Primm family in a brownstone in New York City, where he enjoys baths, helping Joshua Primm with his homework, playing jump rope, and helping Mrs. Primm with the shopping. Unfortunately, Lyle's presence makes the appropriately named neighbor Mr. Grumps' cat crazy, so Mr. Grumps arranges to have Lyle shipped off to the Central Park Zoo. Fortunately, Lyle's old performing partner Mr. Valenti shows up to free him... just in time to rescue Mr. Grump and his cat from a fire!