Lovable Lyle

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: After reading and enjoying Lyle Lyle Crocodile and The House on East 88th St, we were disappointed to find how uninspired this title was. It felt recycled and lacked the joyful flair of the other 2 books. In it, Lyle finds himself the recipient of hate letters. "I hate you" is a common refrain and they are signed "your enemy." The tone of the letters is really hostile and not appropriate for a children's book. This is especially true in this day and age where almost any threat has the potential to turn violent. Skip this one.

Rating:
Summary: A Little Misunderstanding...
Review: I haven't read this book in years, but I have a very vivid memory from it. I read it when I was in first grade, and I guess I didn't really figure out the moral of the story, because I proceeded to write a vicious little hate letter to my next-door neighbor. I don't think I knew what I was doing, and I was very, very ashamed of myself when it was discovered.

So, if you do buy this, just make sure your kids get the point.

Rating:
Summary: Good Moral
Review: I think this is a good book to teach your children to accept people (or in this case, a talking crocodile) for who they are. It validates children's fears and handles normal feelings one might have with new friends moving in and playing with his or her existing friends. Yes, some might not feel the "I hate you" letters are appropriate. However, if your child is finding enjoyment in this book rather than hearing even more unappropriate language on Nick Jr., then I think they made the better choice! I loved it as a child, and my children love it!

Rating:
Summary: Good Moral
Review: When I was a Kid I used to love the Lyle, Lyle Crocodile books, especially this book, Lovable Lyle. I also used to have the tape with Gwen Verdon reading this one and two other Lyle Stories. This is easily one of the best Lyle books.

In this book, almost everybody loved Lyle the Crocodile until one day Clover Sue Hipple (a new friend to young Joshua Primm) started putting hate mail under Lyle's door. Nobody knew who was doing this, until one day Mrs. Primm caught the note writer and found out why she was angry with Lyle. She invited Clover's mother to meet Lyle, only to end the visit with the crocodile falling on both Mrs Hipple and Mrs Primm. Mrs Hipple threatened to have Lyle arrested. But at the beach the next week, Lyle saved Clover's life, and won over both Clover and her mother. This is such a wonderful book, and I will always remember it because it got me in trouble once when I was in the fifth grade for sending a hate letter to my little sister's friend after she hit me.

If you have children, then buy this book at once.

Robert Metz [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: A Lovable Book
Review: When I was a Kid I used to love the Lyle, Lyle Crocodile books, especially this book, Lovable Lyle. I also used to have the tape with Gwen Verdon reading this one and two other Lyle Stories. This is easily one of the best Lyle books.

In this book, almost everybody loved Lyle the Crocodile until one day Clover Sue Hipple (a new friend to young Joshua Primm) started putting hate mail under Lyle's door. Nobody knew who was doing this, until one day Mrs. Primm caught the note writer and found out why she was angry with Lyle. She invited Clover's mother to meet Lyle, only to end the visit with the crocodile falling on both Mrs Hipple and Mrs Primm. Mrs Hipple threatened to have Lyle arrested. But at the beach the next week, Lyle saved Clover's life, and won over both Clover and her mother. This is such a wonderful book, and I will always remember it because it got me in trouble once when I was in the fifth grade for sending a hate letter to my little sister's friend after she hit me.

If you have children, then buy this book at once.

Robert Metz [e-mail]