The Book That Eats People [Hardcover]

John Perry (Author), Mark Fearing (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2009 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

WARNING! THIS IS NOT A BEDTIME STORY

Legend has it there exists a book that eats people.

This is that book!

Many readers have been unable to escape its perilous pages.
But this isn't that book.

Yes it is!

This is simply a story about that book.
Really. I mean, how could a book eat people?
So if you're just dying to know the history of this literary monster, all you have to do is turn the page...

Don't do it!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From the grim warning on the first page (CAUTION! This is a book that eats people) to the advice at the end (Never read this book with syrupy fingers. Never read it with cookies in your pocket. Never turn your back on it), Perry's debut soldiers on with a Lemony Snicket–like straight face. The histories of the book's previous victims are given in gory detail (Sammy pulled as hard as he could, but the book ate him. Then it coughed up his bones and they clattered across the floor like wooden blocks). Fearing draws the book-within-a-book with blood-red covers, heavy-lidded eyes and a mouthful of fangs, packing his collage spreads with torn and crumpled papers (which take on an especially gruesome vibe in this context). Perry also covers the book's perverse appetites (if you hear a sound like an octopus in a tub of yogurt, that's the book's empty stomach), tactics (it traded covers with a book called All About Dolphins, to the delight of one young Victoria Glassford) and eventual (if ineffectual) incarceration. It's all irresistible. Read it. Carefully. All ages. (Oct.)
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Review

Review, Publishers Weekly:
"From the grim warning on the first page ('CAUTION! This is a book that eats people') to the advice at the end ('Never read this book with syrupy fingers. Never read it with cookies in your pocket. Never turn your back on it'), Perry's debut soldiers on with a Lemony Snicket–like straight face....It's all irresistible. Read it. Carefully."

Review, School Library Journal:
"This hilariously dark story is illustrated with collage elements using Photoshop in a jazzy, jangly style that is part noir and part graphic novel. Big-eyed characters are stalked by a wonderfully sinister and pointy-toothed tome. Readers who love monsters and a good scare while still delighting in silly proceedings will definitely want to brave this tale."

Review, Kirkus Reviews:
"Perfect for sharing with susceptible younger sibs or as a gift item for frenemies."

Review, Journal of Children's Literature:
"The playful, sarcastic storyline will entertain intermediate readers, while its subversive nature coupled with the intertextual elements will capture their attention."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 38 pages
• Publisher: Tricycle Press (October 13, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582462682
• ISBN-13: 978-1582462684
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laugh-out-loud funny, August 13, 2009

By 

Sprocketgrrl (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book That Eats People (Hardcover)

I laughed aloud several times when reading this book. As the previous reviewer indicated, this book indeed references death--specifically, death by ravenous book. However, if I had children, I would have no problem giving them this book to read (though I would caution them if they hear the book's tummy rumbling).

I should also note that the illustrations are absolutely fantastic, and worth looking at closely because the page designs have lots of subtle jokes in them.

Definitely buy this book!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from www.firrkids.com, August 12, 2009

By 

www.firrkids.com - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Book That Eats People (Hardcover)

This is a very different sort of book. A mean, nasty, no-good people eating type. Honest. This book eats humans, and is not particular about its diet. It likes children, librarians and security guards - people of all sizes and nationality.

You will need to be very cautious with this book. Oh, you'll want to read it. You be intrigued once you see those slanty eyes and that crooked mouth, not to mention the police tape of a title! And gosh, this book surely wouldn't eat YOU, would it? Well, it might. But you can move pretty fast if you need to, right? So go ahead, ignore the beware stamp and crack open that shiny red cover.

First of all, this book is always hungry. If books had tummies, this one would be growling. Sammy Ruskin from Arkansas made the fatal error of touching this book with fresh peanut butter on his fingers. He's a goner. And it attacked sweet Victoria Glassford, the girl with eyes as round as marbles, whose hair gleamed like butter. If this book could attack a doll like that, you better believe it would eat YOU right up!

This is a bad book with teeth and claws, always hungry for the human touch. Worst of all, it has a way of being engaging and clever that makes humans hungry for it! Best be extra careful and steer clear of this fabulous read. Don't be swayed by the bright illustrations and funny text. Be safe and pick up a boring book about fairies and bunnies instead, not this tantalizing, toothed tale.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun book for kids of all ages, August 14, 2009

By 

Brian A. Schar (Menlo Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Book That Eats People (Hardcover)

The Book that Eats People didn't eat me. Perhaps I'm too old and tough. But it didn't eat my daughter either, so it must be full. For now. This is a fun and different book, with colorful and detailed illustrations and well-thought-out text. It was suitable for our 2 year old, who likes it, and I would think older children would enjoy it even more. Well worth a purchase!