Elizabeth and Larry by Marilyn Sadler illustrated by Roger Bollen

Tuesday Treasure

Elizabeth, aged 62, meets Ed who is 'pushing forty' when he arrives in a box of oranges from Florida. There is no mention in the text that Larry is an Alligator so I suggest reading this book without showing the illustrations perhaps.

There is a beautiful tone to this book:
"Elizabeth met Larry for the first time many years ago. He was delivered to her by mistake with the box of oranges she ordered from Florida. Elizabeth decided to keep Larry, and she gave him a room above the garage. She put the oranges in the refrigerator."

Larry loves his new home but he some problems with the size of the swimming pool. The pair settle into a comfortable life but there are problems, when they go out, with people staring at Larry and even throwing things at him.

"This was the first time Larry realized he was different. Up until then he had assumed he looked like Elizabeth."

The feelings of displacement come to a head when a large group of Elizabeth's relatives arrive. They all look exactly like Elizabeth.  Larry becomes despondent. Elizabeth knows he needs to go back to Florida so she buys him a one way plane ticket home. Over the coming days Elizabeth begins to feel sad. She knows she needs to be with her friend Larry so she buys herself a one-way ticket to Florida. Now the friends can continue to live happily together playing card games - poker and old maid,

This is a sweet story about a special relationship. There are themes of kindness, belonging, acceptance of difference all told with gentle humour. Here is a set of teaching ideas and questions. Roger Bollen is the illustrator of over fifty books including another series that I also adore by Marilyn Sadler, who was his second wife, about a boy called Alistair.

Here is the sequel to Elizabeth and Larry.  When you read this one you may need to talk to a group of children about the terminology associated with playing golf so that they understand the puns in this story which continues the relationship of Larry and Elizabeth but with the complication of a new, and very demanding friend called Ed. Sadly both of these books are now out of print but you might be lucky and find them in a school library.