Albert the Gator and Lyle the crocodile entertain UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital patients

Albert the alligator met Lyle the crocodile Tuesday at an event held to entertain young patients at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital.

The event was held in conjunction with the upcoming release of the film “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile,” an adaptation of a children’s book of the same name. The film tells the story of a singing crocodile (voiced by Shawn Mendes) who takes up residence in the attic of a family’s New York City home.

University of Florida President Kent Fuchs and his wife, Linda, took part in the event, reading portions of the “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile" book to children at the hospital. Fuchs demonstrated the Gator chomp for Lyle, who received additional instruction from Albert.

Lyle shares more of a connection to UF than the fact that a fellow reptile is the university's mascot. The trailer for “Lyle, Lyle Crocodile" shows the title character wearing Florida Gators gear. Actor Javier Bardem, one of the stars of the film, was also seen wearing a Gators shirt in photos taken in New York during filming.

The film opens in wide release Friday.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Lyle, Lyle Crocodile joins Albert at UF Shands children’s hospital