Friday Book Review: I'd Really Like to Eat a Child

Sylivane Donnio

illustrated by Dorothee de Monfreid

You want to go out and buy this book just from the title alone, don't you?

Achilles is a crocodile whose parents usually serve bananas for breakfast. One morning, Achilles decides he would prefer to eat a child. Being concerned parents, they try to deter Achilles from eating a child by offering him a sausage, and even chocolate cake. They finally sit down and cry because their child won't eat what they have put before him (sound familiar, anyone?).

Achilles starts to feel weak because he hasn't eaten breakfast, so he decides a swim would help. At the riverbank he spots a girl and says, "Finally, I'm going to eat a child." I'm not one for spoiling a book, so I'll just say this is a good book for teaching your children to eat the healthy things mom and dad provide. Also, some goals are accomplished with time and effort.

I got a good laugh from a review of this book that was concerned about frightening those children who read this book in crocodile infested areas. I think I would be more concerned about teaching children that crocodiles eat bananas for breakfast, but I think someone missed the point that this book is supposed to be silly. Enjoy a good laugh!

Enrichment: Have a healthy snack when you're finished reading. This would be a good time to find out if your child even knows what a healthy snack is. How about a banana?

Buy It: Available on Amazon for $10.19 with free Super Saver shipping. Or find it in their used & new section for as low as $6.83.