The Enormous Crocodile is very, very hungry and has come up with some secret plans and clever tricks in order to eat his favourite meal - children. The other animals work to foil his nasty evil ways and keep the children safe.

A bizarre tale about a hungry crocodile who brags so much to the other animals that they see his secret plans and clever tricks coming from a mile away. After they spot his enormous figure of course. I can't say I really liked this story all that much but I did appreciate that the elephant was named Trunky - well that and that Trunky saves the day.) 2 stars for target audience. 1 for me. ( )

The enormous crocodile is a greedy grumptious brute who loves to guzzle up little boys and girls and boys. But other animals have a scheme to get the better of this foul fiend, once and for all.

2023 - 1970’s Immersion Reading Challenge

The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl (1978) 30 pages.

READING LEVEL: 4.0 AR POINTS 0.5

I was drawn to the cover, which is super cute. But, the pages are extremely long and wordy, which might be a little daunting for some young readers. I felt the author should have added more pages with the cute artwork, using less words per page.

Although, a little predictable, the story is cute. It kind of reminds me of a little toddler board book I own, Alex Alligator and His Fearsome Jaws” (1997) put out by Reader’s Digest Children’s Books. It has a crocodile on top that you can snap open as you read it. I’ve had it for years and have read to all my 10 grandies. They, of course, get to do the snapping. They loved it. This story style is very similar…just a lot longer with different storyline and ending.

Whereas, Alex Alligator is trying to make friends with each animal, the enormous crocodile is trying to trick kids so he can eat them. The different animals that enormous alligator runs into end up saving the kids.

Alex Alligator does become friends with all the animals by NOT snap, snap, snapping his jaws at them. Roald Dahl’s enormous alligator is finished in the end. He is thrown into the hot, hot sun by Trunky the Elephant, where he is sizzled up. ( )

Chomp. ( )

A really fun story with a delicious villain and lovely colour illustrations from Quentin Blake. ( )