In this book, Lyle is confronted with an enemy, the new girl in town, Clover Sue Hipple, who keeps leaving him threatening letters much to the surprise of the Primm family who assumes everyone loves Lyle. The Primms determine that the only way to resolve the situation is for Lyle to win over the affection of Mrs. Hipple, who doesn’t allow Clover to play with crocodiles. Published in 1969, this book reflects the segregationist ideals upheld in society at the time. Lyle is tokenized, burdened by the responsibility of proving his exceptionalism to those around him. The Primms teach Lyle that the method to combat discrimination is through assimilation, providing children with the misconception that people will only like you if you are similar to or act like them. Other themes included, but not explored in depth in this book, are vandalism and arrest. Mrs. Hipple disapproves of “a crocodile living amongst decent, respectable people” (p. 27) and passes along the mentality that crocodiles are by nature inferior to Clover. Because Lyle is loved and played with by all the other children, Clover finds herself often left out, causing an even stronger hatred towards Lyle to fester. In her letters to Lyle she says, “I hate you so much I can’t stand it” (p. 8) and “I wish you would go away and never come back” (p. 20). The Primm’s question, “Whatever reason could anyone have for hating Lyle?” (p. 8). Lyle is discriminated against for being an animal intruding into the human world where he doesn’t belong. The Primms tell Lyle to be himself and in that way, he will show the Hipples that he is likeable. As a result, Lyle works to overcompensate for any flaws he may have by being friendly, helpful, entertaining, and generous. Lyle works so hard at being nice that he eventually collapses from exhaustion.