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Crazy Croc

Without spoiling the ending

The story

Little Croc watching breaking news of Crazy Croc’s arrest on Mr. Harper’s television

Florida, one Saturday

The crocodiles have learned English. Some of them wash cars. Most humans still call it an invasion. Mr. Harper just wants his pool back, and a sandwich the size of a briefcase.

Big Croc forgets Saturday television. Crazy Croc, who cannot stand anyone being unhappy — including himself — goes into town. Sid’s stall is right where it has always been. A pink dress and a blonde wig are not.

The National Guard arrives. The news gets the burger count wrong. And somewhere behind a concrete wall that says SUNNYSIDE ZOO, a crocodile starts planning how not to stay there.

The crocodiles meeting at night around a map of Florida

A rescue, and a change of heart

The other crocs do not leave a friend in a cage. They form a rescue party: a pool champion, a walking clock, a rock star, and Little Croc, whose legs were not designed for mangrove swamps.

Mr. Harper crashes the Cadillac, hears the news, and finds himself dialling a cousin he cannot stand — the owner of the worst zoo in Florida. He does not know why he cares. He goes anyway.

After that come monkeys, a bus, a map, and a question the book takes seriously: can a crocodile and a human be friends?

Start at the poolMeet the crocs

33 chapters

The titles, and nothing more. The rest is in the book.

  1. 01Mr. Harper’s swimming pool
  2. 02Why Big Croc felt guilty
  3. 03Crazy Croc alone
  4. 04Sid's Hamburger Stall
  5. 05The Great Hamburger Robbery
  6. 06The arrest of Crazy Croc
  7. 07Dreams and reality
  8. 08The smartest crocodile in the world
  9. 09Breaking News
  10. 10Mr. Harper's car crash
  11. 11The man who understood crocodiles
  12. 12The meeting of the crocodiles
  13. 13Mr. Harper returns
  14. 14Crazy Croc's plea
  15. 15Little Croc's legs wear out
  16. 16Mr. Harper's phone call
  17. 17The Crocs split up
  18. 18Mr Stonewall Grimmage III
  19. 19Poolhall's brilliant idea
  20. 20Mr. Harper makes up his mind
  21. 21Tour trouble
  22. 22Bus fuss
  23. 23Crazy Croc's break-out
  24. 24Late arrival
  25. 25On the right track
  26. 26Tic-Toc does his sums
  27. 27Mr. Harper on the trail
  28. 28The net closes in
  29. 29Big Croc attacks
  30. 30Mr. Harper in pursuit
  31. 31No Hiding Place
  32. 32Crocodile Cadillac
  33. 33Homeward Bound

Quick answers

Does the story page spoil the ending?
No. It tells you the setup — the pool, the hamburgers, the arrest — and that the other crocs try a rescue. The last chapters stay in the book.
How many chapters are there?
Thirty-three, from Mr. Harper’s swimming pool to Homeward Bound.