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Quick answer: The best picture Books About Crocodiles and Alligators include The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber, The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber and twelve more picks chosen for story quality and age fit. Each book below has a short description, a suggested age range and who it suits best, with a comparison table to help you choose quickly.
Crocodiles and alligators look scary, but in picture books they are often funny, friendly or a little bit silly. These stories feature famous crocodiles, sneaky alligators and snappy characters that make great read-alouds.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Book | Author | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Enormous Crocodile | Roald Dahl | 4-8 | Roald Dahl fans |
| Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile | Bernard Waber | 4-8 | classic fans |
| The House on East 88th Street | Bernard Waber | 4-8 | fans of Lyle |
| Alligators All Around | Maurice Sendak | 3-6 | alphabet fans |
| The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water | Gemma Merino | 3-6 | kids who feel different |
| Counting Crocodiles | Judy Sierra | 3-7 | counting fans |
| There's an Alligator Under My Bed | Mercer Mayer | 3-7 | kids with bedtime fears |
| Alligator Baby | Robert Munsch | 3-7 | funny story fans |
| Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) | Julie Falatko | 4-8 | meta humour fans |
| Gator Gumbo | Candace Fleming | 4-8 | cooking fans |
| Cornelius | Leo Lionni | 3-7 | kids who do things differently |
| The Crocodile and the Dentist | Taro Gomi | 2-6 | dental visit nerves |
| Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite | Nicola O'Byrne and Nick Bromley | 3-7 | interactive books |
| Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree | Eileen Christelow | 2-5 | counting rhymes |
| Monkey: A Trickster Tale from India | Gerald McDermott | 4-8 | folktale fans |
How We Chose These Books
We looked for real, widely available titles that match the theme and the age range, and we favoured books with clear storytelling and strong reputations with parents, teachers and librarians. Age ranges are suggestions, not rules, so you know your reader best. Previewing a book before you hand it over is always a good idea, especially for sensitive topics.
The 15 Books
1. The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl
A greedy crocodile tries clever tricks to eat children. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: roald Dahl fans.
2. Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile by Bernard Waber
A friendly crocodile lives with a family in New York. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: classic fans.
3. The House on East 88th Street by Bernard Waber
The Primm family finds a crocodile in their bathtub. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: fans of Lyle.
4. Alligators All Around by Maurice Sendak
Alligators act out every letter of the alphabet. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: alphabet fans.
5. The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water by Gemma Merino
A little crocodile discovers why he doesn't like water. Recommended ages: about 3-6.
Best for: kids who feel different.
6. Counting Crocodiles by Judy Sierra
A clever monkey counts crocodiles to cross the sea. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: counting fans.
7. There's an Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer
A boy lures an alligator out from under his bed. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids with bedtime fears.
8. Alligator Baby by Robert Munsch
Parents bring home the wrong baby from the zoo. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: funny story fans.
9. Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) by Julie Falatko
Snappsy argues with the narrator. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: meta humour fans.
10. Gator Gumbo by Candace Fleming
An old gator gets revenge on teasing animals. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: cooking fans.
11. Cornelius by Leo Lionni
A crocodile who walks upright inspires his friends. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids who do things differently.
12. The Crocodile and the Dentist by Taro Gomi
A crocodile and his dentist are both afraid. Recommended ages: about 2-6.
Best for: dental visit nerves.
13. Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite by Nicola O'Byrne and Nick Bromley
A crocodile escapes from a story into the book itself. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: interactive books.
14. Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree by Eileen Christelow
Monkeys tease Mr. Crocodile. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: counting rhymes.
15. Monkey: A Trickster Tale from India by Gerald McDermott
A monkey outsmarts a crocodile. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: folktale fans.
How to Choose the Right Book
For toddlers, start with Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree and The Crocodile and the Dentist. Kids who love classics will enjoy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile and The Enormous Crocodile. For laughs, Snappsy the Alligator and Open Very Carefully are perfect read-alouds.
Tips for Choosing and Sharing These Books
- Read it first. A quick skim lets you spot anything that might need a conversation.
- Match the book to the child. A reader who loves jokes may prefer a funny pick, while a quiet reader may prefer a gentler story.
- Read together. Pausing to ask what a character might feel or do next turns a story into a conversation.
- Visit the library. Borrowing a few titles from this list lets you find the ones your child returns to.
- Revisit favourites. Children often ask for the same book again and again, and rereading builds confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on this list to start with?
The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl is a strong place to start, and every book on this list is a good option.
What age are these books for?
The books on this list suit roughly ages 2 to 8, and each entry shows its own suggested range.
Should I read these books aloud?
Many of them work well read aloud, especially with younger children, and older readers may enjoy reading them independently.
Where can I find these books?
Most of these titles are easy to find at public libraries, school libraries and bookshops, and many are available as ebooks or audiobooks, which can help reluctant or struggling readers.