Lyle, Lyle Crocodile

Bernard Waber's popular children's story The House on East 88th Street has been turned into a delightful animated musical. When the Primms move into a new house, they get a bit of a surprise: there's a crocodile living in the bathtub. Not your average croc, Lyle is a pretty decent hoofer, with an unusual and rather expensive habit-Turkish caviar. Which is why his former owner, Hector P. Valenti, had to leave him behind. After winning over the Primms, Lyle proceeds to conquer the world with his showmanship, making headlines in Variety and elsewhere. The. publicity brings Hector P. back to the house on 88th street to "claim" his croc. But everything turns out fine in the end. Originally aired as an HBO children's special, Lyle, Lyle Crocodile moves at a breakneck pace, and features some snappy tunes by triple-Tony award winner Charles Strouse. And the team of animators, which includes John Canemaker, brings Lyle's fancy footwork to life in admirable fashion. Fun for the whole family, this is highly recommended. (Available from most distributors.)