The Christmas Crocodile
By Bonny Becker
The Story
A crocodile mistakenly turns up under the tree on Christmas Eve and starts eating everything in sight — the roast, the stove, even the tree — while one girl fights to save him.
Why It's Special
For the kid who roots for the troublemaker at every family gathering, this is a Christmas Eve gone deliciously, chaotically wrong.
- Big idea: Kindness means looking past the mess someone makes to see what they actually need.
- Vibes: Rollicking, mischievous, and warm underneath all the chaos.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories where something goes hilariously wrong
- like to root for the misunderstood troublemaker
- are working on standing up for someone others want to send away
- love holiday stories with a bit of chaos
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What are all the things the Christmas Crocodile ate up?
- Feelings & empathy: Why do you think Alice Jayne wanted to find the crocodile a real family instead of sending him away?
- Real-life connection: Have you ever gotten something by mistake, like the crocodile ending up at the wrong house?
- Imagination: If a crocodile showed up under your tree on Christmas Eve, what do you think he'd eat first?
- Character choices: Uncle Theodore, Father, and Aunt Figgy all had different ideas about what to do with the crocodile — whose idea did you like best?
