As six-year-old Normy says goodbye to his friends in New York, he has mixed feelings. HeÕll miss his playmates, but his parents tell him it will be warm and sunny in Florida; he can go swimming all the time.
When his family arrives at their new home, Normy is glad to see there is a small lake in back of his house. One of his first activities is to try catching some fish. But he gets a big surprise when he reels in a small alligator. Normy asks if he can keep the little animal. His mom says he can care for the alligator until it grows too big, but he has to be careful.
The kids at school help Normy name the alligator Charlie, and they are happy that Normy has shared his new friend. As Charlie grows, Normy understands that he canÕt keep an alligator as a pet. Charlie needs to have his own home in the lake and his own alligator friends.