A Crocodile Is Full of Christmas Kindness in Lyle at Christmas

A house in the bustling city doesn't seem like a very good place for a crocodile to live, but it's home for the very affectionate, very reptilian Lyle in Bernard Waber's Lyle at Christmas. It's a locale that allows him to have constant contact with other people, who he loves, as well as other animals, especially the cat Loretta, who lives nearby. While Lyle is reveling in all of his companions and giddily anticipating Christmas, Loretta, stuck with a melancholy owner, slips out the door, leaving her scaly friend anxious and sad. All he wants for Christmas is his neighbor home safe, but can Santa manage it?

I've heard of Lyle the crocodile before but haven't read other books in which he stars. Based on this one, I'd be glad to check them out. Lyle has a kind disposition that seems contrary to his species; perhaps Waber, like the late Steve Irwin, wants to change the public perception of these impressive predators. Of course, Lyle is atypical, every inch a human aside from his body and the fact that he doesn't wear clothes, except for an apron when he is cleaning house.

The book is full of cute, cartoonish drawings, in color and usually more than one to a page. Supporting characters include the Primm family with whom Lyle lives; the supremely surly Mr. Grumps; Hector, a friend of Lyle's who is both a performer and a house cleaner; and the loony, fiery-haired cat lady Prunella.

While they live in the big city, there’s a definite sense of community; as people come and go, they generally treat one another with kindness, and Lyle is especially popular with citizens of all ages, as demonstrated by two pages showing his walk through town, during which the crossing guard, the pizza man, the newsstand owner and a busload of children all take time out to greet him. Later, Lyle finds no shortage of people to help him try to locate Loretta.

Most pages contain three or four sentences, often separated by several drawings. The plethora of pictures helps present the appearance of activity. There’s usually a lot going on in this book, and many people are involved. Waber seems determined to demonstrate that people from all walks of life can live and work together peaceably with a little effort and that stressful situations can actually bring neighbors together instead of driving them apart.

This is a positive message and a charming book. With amusing situations and heartfelt sentiments, Lyle at Christmas contains one green Christmas that won’t leave you feeling blue.