Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile – The Junior Novelization

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile The Junior Novelization tells the story of the film for 8 year olds, about a crocodile who sings beautifully but only when there's nobody watching.

What happens

It starts with Hector P. Valenti, who calls himself a star of stage and screen. Nobody else does. His latest act (a coat full of pigeons) gets him thrown out of a talent show audition and onto the pavement.

Then, in a grubby little pet shop, he hears singing. It's coming from a baby crocodile barely a foot tall, dancing along to the radio in his cage.

Hector takes Lyle home to an old house in New York and the two of them sing and dance together in the attic. It's very sweet. Lyle can't talk, only sing, so music is how he says everything.

But on the night of their big show Lyle freezes in front of the crowd. All that comes out is a tiny SQUEAK. Hector heads off to find more money and tells Lyle that if anyone asks, he's stuffed.

So when the Primm family move in many months later, there's a full-grown crocodile living upstairs and pretending to be a museum piece. Josh is twelve and frightened of just about everything in his new city. He finds Lyle in a glass cabinet with a note from Hector asking him to be kind.

Then the grumpy neighbour's very precious Persian cat ends up inside Lyle's mouth (she's fine, honestly). What follows is a chase over rooftops and down a fire escape that changes everything for Josh.

The fun of reading it is how much you feel for both of them. Lyle is shy and desperate not to let anyone down. Josh plans his route to school down to the minute. Who wouldn't root for two worriers who are braver together?

Worth knowing before you hand it over

During that night-time chase Josh runs straight across a busy road, then a mugger demands his phone. Lyle scares the man off with one enormous roar and it's all over very quickly. It's an American book, so it's Mom and sidewalks throughout.

If you've got a reader who'd love an animal they could secretly keep at home, this is a treat. There's LOTS of singing and a mean neighbour who's easy to boo.

What to read next

If they're after another big reptile turning a family upside down, try My Dad's Got an Alligator by Jeremy Strong. Nicholas's dad brings one home from work and the sofa cushions don't last long.