The transcript captures a dramatized reading of Roald Dahl’s children’s story “The Enormous Crocodile.” The scene opens in a muddy African swamp where two crocodiles—one enormous and one not‑so‑big—discuss lunch. The enormous crocodile declares his intention to eat a “nice juicy little child,” boasting about his size and clever tricks, while the smaller crocodile protests, insisting he only eats fish. Their banter is filled with repeated lines for emphasis and humor. The enormous crocodile then meets Humpty Rumpy, a hippo, and boasts about his plan to eat a child, prompting the hippo’s horrified reaction. The excerpt showcases the story’s darkly comic tone, character dynamics, and the use of repetitive dialogue to engage young listeners.
Chapters
I am reading The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl. In the biggest, brownest, muddiest swamp in Africa, 2 crocodiles lay their heads just above the water. One of the crocodiles was enormous.
The other was not so big.
Do you know what I like for my lunch today?
the enormous crocodile asked.
No!
The not-so-big one said.
What?
The enormous crocodile grinned, showing his hundreds of sharp white teeth.
For lunch today, he said, I would like a nice juicy little child.
I never eat children!
The not-so-big one said.
Only fish. Ho ho!
cried the enormous crocodile.
I'll bet if you saw a fat, juicy little child paddling in the water over there at this very moment, you'd gulp him up in one gulp!
No, I wouldn't!
the not-so-big one said.
Children are too tough and chewy. They are tough and chewy and nasty and bitter!
Tough and chewy?
cried the enormous crocodile.
Nasty and bitter? What awful tummy rot you talk! They are juicy and yummy!
They taste so bitter, the not-so-big one said. You have to cover them with sugar before you can eat them.
Children are bigger than fish, said the enormous crocodile. You get bigger helpings.
You are greedy!
the not-so-big one said.
You're the greediest croc in the whole river!
I'm the bravest croc in the whole river, said the enormous crocodile. I'm the only one who dares to leave the water and go through the jungle to the town to look For your little children to eat.
You've only done that once, snorted the not-so-big one.
And what happened then? They all saw you coming and ran away.
Ah, but today when I go, they will not see me at all, said the enormous crocodile.
Of course they'll see you, the not-so-big one said.
You're so enormous and ugly. They'll see you from miles away!
The enormous crocodile grinned again, and his terrible sharp teeth sparkled like knives in the sun.
Nobody will see me, he said, because this time I thought up secret plans and clever tricks.
Clever tricks?
cried the nutso big one.
You've never done anything clever in your life.
You're the stupidest croc in the whole river!
I'm the cleverest croc in the whole river, the enormous crocodile answered. For my lunch today, I shall feast upon a fat, juicy little child while you lie here in the river feeling hungry.
Goodbye!
The enormous crocodile swam to the other side of the river and crawled out of the water. A gigantic creature was standing in the slimy, oozy mud on the riverbank. It was Humpty Dumpty the Hippopotamus!
Hello, hello!
said Humpty Rumpy.
Where on earth are you off to at this time of day?
I have secret plans and clever tricks, said the crocodile.
Oh dear!
said Humpty Rumpy.
I'll bet you're going to do something horrid!
The enormous crocodile grinned at Humpty Rumpy. And said, I'm going to fill my hungry tumpty tummy with something yummy, yummy, yummy.
What's so yummy?
asked Humpy Rumpy.
Try to guess, said the crocodile. It's something that walks on 2 legs.
You don't mean, said Humpy Rumpy.
You don't really mean you're going to eat a little child?
Of course I am!
said the crocodile.
Oh, you horrid, greedy, grumpus brute!
cried Humpty Rumpty.
I hope you get caught and cooked and turned into a crocodile soup!
The enormous crocodile laughed out loud at Humpty Rumpty.
