Parents' Guide to

Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

By Carrie Kingsley, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 4+

Kind, talented crocodile charms humans in a sweet classic.

Book Bernard Waber Friendship 1965
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 4+

Based on 1 parent review

linda19152
linda19152 Parent of 4, 5 and 6-year-old
October 9, 2022
age 4+

You will laugh...that's guaranteed

The best I can say is that I was overjoyed that I only had to pay 6 bucks For this film compared to yesterday's 14 bucks for an equally entertaining movie.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE lives happily in a house on East 88th Street with his human family, the Primms. They go on adventures around the city, skating and shopping and picnicking and enjoying city life. But their neighbor, Mr. Grumps, and his cat, Loretta, don't like Lyle at all. Mr. Grumps finds a way to have Lyle sent to live at the zoo, and although Lyle tries to make the best of the situation, he's very unhappy there. But one night an old friend comes to visit Lyle to help him find a better place to live -- until a new friend embraces Lyle for the crocodile he is.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

With warmth and kindness emanating from every page and lots of repetition to help early readers with sight words, this gentle classic holds up decades after it was written. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a lovely book to snuggle up and read either together or alone, and it has a gentleness and easy pace that make it easy to smile along with Lyle. The way Lyle and his family treat each other and Mr. Grumps is a nice example of compassion, and the simple, sweet illustrations are an absolute delight.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how to show compassion for people who aren't kind to us, the way Mr. Grumps is in Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile. How do you know when it's good to be kind and gentle, and when it's better to be more firm and protective?

  • How do you think Lyle felt about rushing to help after Mr. Grumps had not been nice to him?

  • Is there anyone in your life you don't get along with that you think deserves another chance?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate