Status
Missing
Call number
Genres
Collection
Publication
Hodder Children's Books (2009)
Description
One morning Achilles, a young crocodile, insists that he will eat a child that day and refuses all other food, but when he actually finds a little girl, she puts him in his place.
User reviews
LibraryThing member rsamet
This funny picture book about an crocodile-child will appeal to parents looking to put an end to picky eating. It is about a little crocodile named Achilles, who decides he is sick of eating bananas, and proclaims that he wants to eat a child. His parents try in vain to tempt him with his favorite
Show More
foods, even baking him a cake. Then, Achilles spots a little girl playing on the riverbank, but when he approaches to eat her, she calls him cute and tiny and tosses him into the river! Achillles resolves to eat his bananas so that he can grow up big and strong. The simple, cartoonish drawings remind me of Mo Willems' work, and are very effective. The characters are all crocodiles, except the little girl, who is depicted in the illustrations as African-American. Recommended for parents to read to children going through a picky-eating phase, from ages 4-6. Show Less
LibraryThing member MarthaL
The bright yellow cover with the woefully looking little crocodile attracted my attention but at first the title repelled me as I went to select books for preschoolers. Every morning Achilles eats the bananas his mother brings him but tells her he would "really like to eat a child." Both mama and
Show More
papa try different means to get him to eat more. One day along the river bank he sees a little girl playing by herself. Fortunately for her, she is strong and quick witted enough to be able to turn the tables on him. The illustrations are almost cartoon like with purple water, pink sky and a barefooted dark skinned girl with dread locks and an orange skirt and a yellow short t-shirt. In the back ground are African look huts. Young children who want a scarey story will delight in this book that gives that scarey thrill. But when not knowing the children I would not share this with a group under 2nd grade who might become frightened by the whole idea. Of course if the theme was crocodiles and the students had already gained an understanding of the real animal and their real nature then this would be very appropriate and would be a good book for discussion. Show Less
LibraryThing member dangerlibearian
I love this book!! A little alligator stops eating because he really wants to eat a child alas he is too small and cute. When he finally gets the chance to eat a child she just picks him up and throws him in the water, then he eats a lot to be big enough to eat a child.
LibraryThing member SJKessel
Donnio, S. (2007). I'd Really Like to Eat a Child. New York: Random House.
9780375837616
Let me repeat. The title of this book is "I'd Really Like to Eat a Child." That alone made me want to read it.
I wasn't disappointed.
Appetizer: Achilles, a baby crocodile, is tired of eating bananas for
Kay, so this is a young children's pictureboook. While I don't want to specifically spoil the ending, I promise you, this is not a gory story. It's funny, with a bit of potential to make its readers uncomfortable.
Personally, I was very entertained.
When I first began reading the book, I was so amused with the little crocodile and the folkloric tone of the story, I HAD to start reading it out loud.
To my cat.
She didn't seem impressed. She may have been thinking, "what is that crazy mommy-creature doing now?" or maybe she was developing a taste for baby meat, I don't know. But after I'd finished reading it to her, I started looking over my syllabus for the quarter, asking myself when exactly I could tie in a book on wanting to eat a person to one of my lessons.
Shockingly, there was no perfect fit.
But even though it's a busy week, I'm going to start the class in which we'll be discussing The Hunger Games with I'd Really Like to Eat a Child. Cause...you know, both involve fights...and food. At some point. So, it's a stretch, but I'll go around the room and ask the students what their favorite food was as a child, ask them how often they actually got to eat it and call it good. We will all be entertained and amused and that is what matters.
Of course, I'm teaching undergrads. Students who, for the most part, aren't prone to fearing crocodiles in the well-tilled wilds of central Ohio. That may not be the case for younger readers. To help battle irrational fears of crocodiles that the text might trigger, a teacher could focus on sharing scientific information about the beasties.
I just wouldn't start with this news article. Or this one. Eep.
But seriously, few but dear readers, this book is very much focused on the theme of nutrition. A teacher could easily pair this book with a lesson on foods that can help to make wee little kids feel awake and strong.
Dinner Conversation:
"Every morning, Mama Crocodile would bring tasty bananas to little Achilles for his breakfast, and each time she said in wonder, "What a big boy you are getting to be, my son!"
"But one morning, Achilles refused to eat. This worried Mama Crocodile. "Don't you want a tasty banana for breakfast?" she asked.
"No thanks, Mom," Achilles answered. "Today, I'd really like to eat a child."
"Achilles was beginning to feel strange and rather weak all over--which is exactly what happens when you haven't eaten your breakfast."
"There on the riverbank, was a little girl playing by herself. "Yippee! Finally, I'm going to eat a child," Achilles whispered to himself.
He crept up slowly and bared his beautiful teeth, like a ferocious beast ready to pounce."
Tasty Rating: !!!!
9780375837616
Let me repeat. The title of this book is "I'd Really Like to Eat a Child." That alone made me want to read it.
I wasn't disappointed.
Appetizer: Achilles, a baby crocodile, is tired of eating bananas for
Show More
breakfast. He doesn't even want sausage. So, he refuses to eat until he gets what he really wants and he would really like to eat a child. And when he sees a girl on the river's edge, all by herself, he tries to get his meal.Kay, so this is a young children's pictureboook. While I don't want to specifically spoil the ending, I promise you, this is not a gory story. It's funny, with a bit of potential to make its readers uncomfortable.
Personally, I was very entertained.
When I first began reading the book, I was so amused with the little crocodile and the folkloric tone of the story, I HAD to start reading it out loud.
To my cat.
She didn't seem impressed. She may have been thinking, "what is that crazy mommy-creature doing now?" or maybe she was developing a taste for baby meat, I don't know. But after I'd finished reading it to her, I started looking over my syllabus for the quarter, asking myself when exactly I could tie in a book on wanting to eat a person to one of my lessons.
Shockingly, there was no perfect fit.
But even though it's a busy week, I'm going to start the class in which we'll be discussing The Hunger Games with I'd Really Like to Eat a Child. Cause...you know, both involve fights...and food. At some point. So, it's a stretch, but I'll go around the room and ask the students what their favorite food was as a child, ask them how often they actually got to eat it and call it good. We will all be entertained and amused and that is what matters.
Of course, I'm teaching undergrads. Students who, for the most part, aren't prone to fearing crocodiles in the well-tilled wilds of central Ohio. That may not be the case for younger readers. To help battle irrational fears of crocodiles that the text might trigger, a teacher could focus on sharing scientific information about the beasties.
I just wouldn't start with this news article. Or this one. Eep.
But seriously, few but dear readers, this book is very much focused on the theme of nutrition. A teacher could easily pair this book with a lesson on foods that can help to make wee little kids feel awake and strong.
Dinner Conversation:
"Every morning, Mama Crocodile would bring tasty bananas to little Achilles for his breakfast, and each time she said in wonder, "What a big boy you are getting to be, my son!"
"But one morning, Achilles refused to eat. This worried Mama Crocodile. "Don't you want a tasty banana for breakfast?" she asked.
"No thanks, Mom," Achilles answered. "Today, I'd really like to eat a child."
"Achilles was beginning to feel strange and rather weak all over--which is exactly what happens when you haven't eaten your breakfast."
"There on the riverbank, was a little girl playing by herself. "Yippee! Finally, I'm going to eat a child," Achilles whispered to himself.
He crept up slowly and bared his beautiful teeth, like a ferocious beast ready to pounce."
Tasty Rating: !!!!
Show Less
LibraryThing member AbigailAdams26
A young crocodile named Achilles decides one day that he would like to eat a child, rather than his customary bananas. Nothing his parents do - fetching a huge sausage from the village, baking a delicious chocolate cake - makes any difference. Then an unexpected encounter with a child sends
I expected to enjoy Sylviane Donnio's I'd Really Like to Eat a Child more than I did. But although the narrative was amusing, and the illustrations by Dorothée de Monfreid absolutely charming, somehow I wasn't completely taken with it. It was, as my friend Lisa has noted, "a little thin." Still, it will undoubtedly amuse young readers with a taste for the satirical, as well as those who are fussy eaters. I myself would love it if Monfreid's series about Coco the elephant were translated, but that's another issue...
Show More
Achilles back to bananas - for a time...I expected to enjoy Sylviane Donnio's I'd Really Like to Eat a Child more than I did. But although the narrative was amusing, and the illustrations by Dorothée de Monfreid absolutely charming, somehow I wasn't completely taken with it. It was, as my friend Lisa has noted, "a little thin." Still, it will undoubtedly amuse young readers with a taste for the satirical, as well as those who are fussy eaters. I myself would love it if Monfreid's series about Coco the elephant were translated, but that's another issue...
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rachel.Seltz
Ages 3-6.
Achilles the baby crocodile is tired of eating the bananas his mother brings him. He wants to use his beautifully sharp teeth to gobble up another treat: he’d really like to eat a child. But when Achilles confidently goes off in search of a child for his dinner, he’s in for a bit of a
Achilles refrain of “I’d really like to eat a child” will please children with its anticipated repetition. The statement is, of course, hilarious coming from a hopelessly cute and shrimpy baby crocodile, and children are likely to giggle over the little guy. Those who read aloud this book will be able to try out plenty of different voices and sound effects, from the mother and father’s crocodiles hysterics, to Achilles’s roaring, and the little girl’s reaction.
Monfreid’s expressive cartoons delight readers with tiny Achilles’s disgruntled scowls, pouts, and grumpy faces. The gold colored bananas and bright lime color of the crocodiles and palm tree leaves nicely offset pastel backgrounds for an eye-catching effect.
This playful book will spark lighthearted conversations with children about how having patience and working towards what you want. Recommended.
Achilles the baby crocodile is tired of eating the bananas his mother brings him. He wants to use his beautifully sharp teeth to gobble up another treat: he’d really like to eat a child. But when Achilles confidently goes off in search of a child for his dinner, he’s in for a bit of a
Show More
shakedown. Achilles refrain of “I’d really like to eat a child” will please children with its anticipated repetition. The statement is, of course, hilarious coming from a hopelessly cute and shrimpy baby crocodile, and children are likely to giggle over the little guy. Those who read aloud this book will be able to try out plenty of different voices and sound effects, from the mother and father’s crocodiles hysterics, to Achilles’s roaring, and the little girl’s reaction.
Monfreid’s expressive cartoons delight readers with tiny Achilles’s disgruntled scowls, pouts, and grumpy faces. The gold colored bananas and bright lime color of the crocodiles and palm tree leaves nicely offset pastel backgrounds for an eye-catching effect.
This playful book will spark lighthearted conversations with children about how having patience and working towards what you want. Recommended.
Show Less
LibraryThing member mirikayla
Bizarre and adorable.
Subjects
Awards
CCBC Choices (2008)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2008)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2004
2007 (USA)
Physical description
32 p.; 8.62 inches
ISBN
0340970499 / 9780340970492
Other editions
I Really Want to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio (Paperback)
Similar in this library
DDC/MDS
| 843.92 |