LYLE AND THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1966

Lyle the crocodile is lovely this time again at (The House on 88th St.) He lives with the Primms and when their son Joshua had a birthday party, Lyle helped with the preparations, joined the guests in party games but all the time the wish to have a party of his own was growing on him. Lyle was reluctantly coming down with a major case of jealousy. Mr. Waber shows the only crocodile you'd care to have around the house sliding into the sulks in a way every child will be able to recognize. Lyle goes from pensive to the mean-eyed glance of indifference to putting his foot (intentionally?) through Joshua's drum. Since Lyle can't talk, he couldn't tell the Primms next day that he was suffering from continuing envy and painful shame. Mrs. Primm decided to call a doctor and, because she inverted the first and last names of the recommended croc specialist, she wound up with a regular doctor who ordered Lyle into the hospital. It's the sort of mixup that children find terribly funny and while Lyle works off his guilt serving the patients, they'll be learning all the symptoms of chronic covetousness and lingering conscience. Lyle in the grip of the green-eyed monster can be used as a miracle cautionary/cure.

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1966

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1966

Categories: CHILDREN'S