A scrawny little crocodile wants the opportunity to bite off more than he can chew. He's tired of bananas; today he'd like to eat a child. But he's smaller than he thinks, and the little girl he chooses for his first meal puts him in his place—she picks him up and tickles his tummy! The little crocodile is going to have to eat a lot of bananas and grow a lot bigger before he can add children to his menu! Simple yet hilarious artwork brings this droll story to life.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Frequently Bought Together
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Oh, growing up is so hard! There's so much you want and so much you can't do yet. Little Achilles is a crocodile who decides one morning that he's grown beyond his diet of bananas. "Today, I’d really like to eat a child," he tells his mother. She reasons with him: "What an idea!...Well, children don't grow on banana trees, only bananas do, and that's what I have for breakfast!" But Achilles won't be swayed, not even by sausage or cake. And when he happens upon a girl child by the river, it looks like his culinary dream might come true...
French author-illustrator team Sylviane Donnio and Dorothee de Monfreid have perfectly captured the hubris of childhood in this droll story. Young Achilles is so darn cute, and so sure of himself, readers will fall instantly in love. And the encounter with the girl at the river bank is priceless. --Emilie Coulter
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K—Picky Achilles, a small crocodile, refuses to eat his bananas for breakfast and matter-of-factly explains that he'd rather eat a child. Despite the delicious chocolate cake his parents make to whet his appetite, Achilles is insistent. As he walks down to the river, he notices an opportunity—a young girl sitting on the riverbank. Droll humor saves the day as Achilles meets his match. Sunny cartoon illustrations capture the setting with grass huts and tropical trees in the background. The yellow endpapers with silhouetted bananas add additional flavor. Rereading will be a delight.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By Kelly Herold
Format:Hardcover
There is something so refreshingly honest and upfront about Sylviane Donnio's "I'd Really Like to Eat a Child." Just the title alone tells you that this story is not another P.C. animal tale in which polar bears and babies snuggle together on a cold night. Nope, "I'd Really Like to Eat a Child" gives it to you straight.
Achilles the crocodile lives on a banana diet enforced by his Mama (and, possibly, P.C. animal stories everywhere). One morning Mama is worried when Achilles won't eat his banana for breakfast. When Achilles announces--as well he should--that he wants a child to eat, Mama answers, "What an idea, my little Achilles!...Children don't grown on banana trees, only bananas do and that's what I have for breakfast."
Dad tries to remedy the situation with a sausage brought back from the village. Achilles insists a child should be on the menu. Dad exclaims, "Come now, Achilles. There's no such thing as a sausage made from children!" (Okay, call me sick, but that's pretty funny. My kids thought it was a hoot too.)
Many foodish attempts are made until Achilles encounters a lovely little girl playing on a river bank. Achilles approaches slowly...until...the girl cries, "Oh! Look at that...A teeny-tiny crocodile! He's awfully cute!" Poor Achilles. His hopes dashed, he runs home so he can eat as many bananas as possible. I'll let you guess why.
Sylviane Donnio's concept is great here--this book has the dark humor any three- to eight-year-old will appreciate. Dorothée de Monfreid's cartoon-like illustrations are a perfect match as well. How she makes a teeny tiny crocodile's expressions exactly mirror those of a recalcitrant toddler I'll never know.
"I'd Really Like to Eat a Child" is highly recommended fun for adults and children who like a touch of the macabre with their humor. Don't worry--no children were harmed in the making of this book.
Achilles the crocodile lives on a banana diet enforced by his Mama (and, possibly, P.C. animal stories everywhere). One morning Mama is worried when Achilles won't eat his banana for breakfast. When Achilles announces--as well he should--that he wants a child to eat, Mama answers, "What an idea, my little Achilles!...Children don't grown on banana trees, only bananas do and that's what I have for breakfast."
Dad tries to remedy the situation with a sausage brought back from the village. Achilles insists a child should be on the menu. Dad exclaims, "Come now, Achilles. There's no such thing as a sausage made from children!" (Okay, call me sick, but that's pretty funny. My kids thought it was a hoot too.)
Many foodish attempts are made until Achilles encounters a lovely little girl playing on a river bank. Achilles approaches slowly...until...the girl cries, "Oh! Look at that...A teeny-tiny crocodile! He's awfully cute!" Poor Achilles. His hopes dashed, he runs home so he can eat as many bananas as possible. I'll let you guess why.
Sylviane Donnio's concept is great here--this book has the dark humor any three- to eight-year-old will appreciate. Dorothée de Monfreid's cartoon-like illustrations are a perfect match as well. How she makes a teeny tiny crocodile's expressions exactly mirror those of a recalcitrant toddler I'll never know.
"I'd Really Like to Eat a Child" is highly recommended fun for adults and children who like a touch of the macabre with their humor. Don't worry--no children were harmed in the making of this book.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a librarian and saw this book at a publisher's book fair. The title grabbed me instantly as hilarious. I have a three year old nephew so ordered the book for his birthday. When it arrived I sat right down and read it. The story is just as cute as the title; about little Achilles the crocodile who had a steady diet of bananas from his Mom but really wants to eat a child. After pursuing this ambition and meeting a possible child to consume Achilles realizes his mistake and happily goes back to Mom and his regular diet. It's a simple yarn for a child up to about the age of six. The pictures are delightful; colorful and well drawn. I think I'll order it for myself. My nephew has certainly enjoyed his copy.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"I'd Really Like to Eat a Child" is a fantastic book about Achilles (a little crocodile) who refuses to eat anything because he wants to eat a child. His Mama and Papa try getting some new foods for him but he refuses to eat those, too. He is being totally stubborn. Then he finds a little girl and wants to eat her. Achilles tries to roar but the girl just thinks he's cute. He goes home and eats bananas. But he does NOT give up on his silly idea to eat a child.
I think kids would enjoy this book because it's funny. Even the pictures are funny. I loved the part where the little girl tickled Achilles and then threw him in the river. That was hilarious. I give this book 5 stars because it is humorous and made me laugh. I keep reading it over and over again. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
Review by Connor C., age 6, Boston Mensa
I think kids would enjoy this book because it's funny. Even the pictures are funny. I loved the part where the little girl tickled Achilles and then threw him in the river. That was hilarious. I give this book 5 stars because it is humorous and made me laugh. I keep reading it over and over again. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
Review by Connor C., age 6, Boston Mensa
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Boring and not funny
Waste of time and money. Not great for kid or adult. Lame. Not worth the money at all. Save your money.
Published 17 days ago by shocktech
4.0 out of 5 stars
Oh, That Achilles!
Achilles is a hoot!
Ending could be stronger.
Love the illustrations.
Seriously? Nine more words? It's a children's picture book!
Ending could be stronger.
Love the illustrations.
Seriously? Nine more words? It's a children's picture book!
Published 17 days ago by psbbrown
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cute book
Bought as a gift, but we all enjoyed reading the cute story about the alligator who wants to eat a child.
Published 20 days ago by dtepe
3.0 out of 5 stars
needs better pictures
I like this book I bought for my 3 year old but the pictures are very undesirable. I mean they are fine but for children I expected more colorful.
Published 27 days ago by alex
4.0 out of 5 stars
Alligator is grumpy...
Little Alligator is tired of eating bananas... he wants to eat a CHILD. But his parents in their wisdom insist that a child is not available whereas bananas are. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Muriel Weidemann
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very cute
Very cute and silly book, not really for kids but hilarious for adult story time. Illustrations are super cute too.
Published 1 month ago by Vellokat
5.0 out of 5 stars
love this book
What I really liked, was the little girl. She wasn't your typical white, blond, princess-type. Loved her. And the story line is cute, too.
Published 2 months ago by sonybalony
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book
This book is a fun read. Yes, he wants to each a child (smile). I teach Literature and have four children who enjoy all types of books. My little ones always chuckle. Good read!
Published 2 months ago by K. Preasmyer
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Okay Quirky Book
I collect unusual, strange and inappropriate children's books. From my perspective this book is okay. It is charming, with no real objectionable content. Read more
Published 3 months ago by E. Anomie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cute Story
This is a cute story, kids will like it. Has the feel of something independently published, since the story is somewhat "loose".
Published 3 months ago by Trisha E. Palmer
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Listmania!
|
|
