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...
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reviews
Jul 07, 2011
Gregory
rated it: 
Sometimes a book's title is too perfect. When I discovered this book on a shelf in a toy store in Seattle, I knew it would make a most amusing addition to the collection I keep in the principal's office. (Runner up that day: Monsters Eat Whiny Children. Oh, how I'd love to meet the store's buyer!)
One clever young office visitor spotted the book and fought unsuccessfully to repress his grin. It was a command reading.
Achilles the crocodile is seemingly content to feast on b More...
One clever young office visitor spotted the book and fought unsuccessfully to repress his grin. It was a command reading.
Achilles the crocodile is seemingly content to feast on b More...
Apr 19, 2011
S.N.Arly
rated it:
This was one of those spontaneous purchases that really pays off. I'd never heard of this book when my son picked it out at the book store. It's clever, it's silly and it even gives some useful information (if you don't eat your breakfast, you'll feel weird and if you don't eat well, you won't be big enough to achieve your dreams). The language flows well, making it a pleasure to read aloud, and is definitely not dumbed-down for kids, which is the best way to add to their vocabulary.
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Nov 08, 2010
Erin
rated it: 
While this one seems to disturb other people, I find it adorably hilarious. The idea of a crocodile wanting to eat a child seems natural and appropriate and the simplistic charm of the illustrations suspends any aspects of fear for me. I know that other people think that a child reading the book might be afraid of being eaten after reading it, but the violent aspects of the book seem more funny and comical than harmful. If you compare it to fairytales, which often include physical and gory vi
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Jun 03, 2009
Tiffany
rated it: 
I saw this book recommended at the bookstore and then had to endure it during story time with my 3-year-old at the museum. It's bizarre and frightening - nightmarish stuff, really. What child wants to think about alligators who are plotting to gobble them up? I figured the end would be somehow redeeming, but no - at the end, the alligator plans to eat more bananas to grow big and strong "so I can eat a child." My 3-year-old kept giving me wide-eyed looks through the whole book - I wish
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Nov 25, 2011
Melanie
rated it:
Achilles the young crocodile usually has a banana for breakfast, just like his mother. But one day, he decides he wants a child to eat. His father tries to tempt him with a sausage, both parents bake a huge chocolate cake; nothing works. One day, Achilles decides to take a swim in the river. When he gets there a young girl is playing. He creeps up behind her with every intention of eating her. However when he gets close enough the little girl turns, sees him and exclaims with pleasure over this
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Dec 14, 2010
Emily
rated it:
It's cute, witty and, by virtue of adeptly mixing those two elements, very clever.
Or it's crass, fear-inducing and inappropriate for children.
What's the answer? That parents shouldn't conservatively assume children can't handle dark humor, but also that parents shouldn't liberally assume all children of all ages can.
As with the brilliantly dark works of Jon Sczieska and Roald Dahl, I would not give this book to any child under the age of six. Depending upon the ch More...
Or it's crass, fear-inducing and inappropriate for children.
What's the answer? That parents shouldn't conservatively assume children can't handle dark humor, but also that parents shouldn't liberally assume all children of all ages can.
As with the brilliantly dark works of Jon Sczieska and Roald Dahl, I would not give this book to any child under the age of six. Depending upon the ch More...
Oct 06, 2009
Abigail
rated it: 
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 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 Dorot More...
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 Dorot More...
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Apr 11, 2009
RachelAnne
rated it:
Ages 3-8 Achilles is a baby crocodile. One morning, he refuses to eat any bananas for breakfast because he has his heart set on eating one thing only: “I’d really like to eat a child.” The youngster sulks and holds out until he finally meets a child down by the river. Instead of being scared, though, the little girl thinks the “teeny-tiny crocodile is “awfully cute” and “so scrawny.” She catches Achilles, tickles his belly and throws him back in the river. Achilles returns home determined t
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May 07, 2008
Kathy
rated it:
I laugh every time I read this book! The drawings of Achilles are adorable.
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Aug 07, 2008
Walter
rated it:
Oh, what fun it is to read this book aloud to children!
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Aug 04, 2011
An Abundance of Books
rated it:
Featured at An Abundance of Books
Young Achilles wakes up one day and decides that he would really like to eat a child. His mother only has bananas for him and points out that "children don't grow on banana trees". Achilles refuses the bananas in hopes for a child for breakfast. Later on his father brings him a giant sausage. Achilles refuses this meal also, even though his father tells him that "there's no such thing as a sausage made from children".
Hi More...
Young Achilles wakes up one day and decides that he would really like to eat a child. His mother only has bananas for him and points out that "children don't grow on banana trees". Achilles refuses the bananas in hopes for a child for breakfast. Later on his father brings him a giant sausage. Achilles refuses this meal also, even though his father tells him that "there's no such thing as a sausage made from children".
Hi More...
May 25, 2008
Yosafbridg
rated it:
Now here’s a lovely sentiment: I’d Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylvianne Donnio • Illustrated by Dorothée de Monfreid (don't you ever just get to feeling that way [like when the little darlings are running about the library making lots of loud, annoying kiddie-type noises crashing into other patrons and library displays and such; and their parents are wandering about {or surfing the internet} blithely ignoring their responsibilities~makes a librarian want to rampage...]?). Achilles is a More...
Jul 14, 2010
Mr.
rated it:
The young croc, Achilles, doesn't want to eat the bananas, sausage, or chocolate cake supplied by Mama Crocodile. Instead he says, "I'd really like to eat a child."
First of all, it gets a top ten best title ever award. Second, the story delivers a great read aloud, offering up a good dose of fun. The text is charming and the illustrations are quite fitting (though a bit simplistic).
I think little boys will especially like it.
Highly recommended.
First of all, it gets a top ten best title ever award. Second, the story delivers a great read aloud, offering up a good dose of fun. The text is charming and the illustrations are quite fitting (though a bit simplistic).
I think little boys will especially like it.
Highly recommended.
Aug 10, 2009
Liza
rated it:
Achilles, the baby crocodile, gets tired one day of eating bananas and declares that he would like to eat a child. Achilles' parents worry about him and try to get him to eat various other foods, to no avail. So, Achilles heads out to the river and encounters just what he was looking for, but not exactly the ending he had in mind. The illustrations are not particularly stunning, but the text is nice and the concept would go over well with the storytime crowds.
May 20, 2011
Monica!
rated it:
So, I wouldn't read this to my infant child -- the book's suggestion that alligators are hungry for your flesh and that, even now, there is an alligator eating his breakfast so that he'll be big enough to chomp you down in a single bite is a little scary. But! For those of us who live in non-alligator-populated areas and who are looking for a fun children's book for slightly older readers, this fit the bill nicely.
Aug 25, 2010
donewithdora
rated it:
Unique, interesting, and I loved that my kid "got it." Some might be put off by the ending, but she was thoroughly entertained and at the end declared that what you can learn from this book is that sometimes you have to do things you may not want to do to get what you want in the end. (I would add as long as it isn't harmful...like eating bananas.)
May 06, 2009
Karen
rated it:
A simple story, kind of offensive, funny scenes, and a satisfying ending. Great! When read aloud at storytime, some parents are kind of uncomfortably silent at the beginning, but by the end of the book they get the joke and end up checking it out. The kids pretty much like it right from the beginning.
Feb 09, 2010
8feetahead
rated it:
The title captivated my son immediately. The book is kind of cute, but I found the end rather odd. It's like the author is leaving the door open for a sequel which doesn't work well for a young children's book. My reptile-loving son still enjoyed it, but it wasn't what I had hoped.
Oct 03, 2011
Bea
rated it:
Cute story, simple and straight-forward, a worthy read. The narrative gives plenty to talk about later (being a picky eater but needing to eat what's given you, taking on more than you can handle/ before you're big enough to do it, etc)
Jan 02, 2009
Kathy
rated it:
My favorite new picture book. I think it's going to be a while before I find something that tops this. Go out and read it to a kid you love today! It's a wonderful book to share with others!
Dec 26, 2008
Leigh
rated it:
Baby crocodile does NOT want to eat bananas,he wants to eat a child. And so off her goes, searching for a yummy toddler to eat...very funny ending. I won't spoil it for you.
Jan 16, 2010
Nancy
rated it:
A lovely book with an obvious "listen to your parents" message and a very very cute baby crocodile...but still slightly disturbing to me and because of that, I love this book!
Feb 08, 2012
Joanna
rated it:
Recommended as another "surprise/gotcha" picture book for kids. (Along w/ Wolves by Gravett, Penguin by Dunbar, I Want My Hat Back by Klassen, Bark George by Feiffer)
Jul 10, 2010
Eloise
rated it:
A great book for the kid who is a picky eater and the poor mom who tries to please him. Our 7-10-year-olds were on the edge of their seats in at least one part.
Feb 24, 2010
Matt and MeDynn
rated it:
I don't usually put kid's books on here but this is an instant classic. Maybe I'm just a big kid, bit I'm not sure who enjoys reading this one more, me or the boy.
Oct 01, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Hmm. I love the title. I love the premise. I love the name Achilles for the little crocodile’s name. The illustrations are cute. I really liked it as I was reading it.
However, when I’d finished it, it seemed a bit thin to me; I really wanted more to the story.
I’m also not quite sure about the intended audience for this book. I’d screen it before reading it to 3-4 year olds. I think 5-8 year olds might feel more glee than fear, but it depends on the individual child. The More...
However, when I’d finished it, it seemed a bit thin to me; I really wanted more to the story.
I’m also not quite sure about the intended audience for this book. I’d screen it before reading it to 3-4 year olds. I think 5-8 year olds might feel more glee than fear, but it depends on the individual child. The More...
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Feb 15, 2010
Barbara
rated it:
A new favorite of mine.... It would have to be the right situation to do it at ST, but it's great. The drawings and concept keep the intention clear.
Jul 11, 2009
Natalie
rated it:
really cute. this little baby alligator keeps telling his parents that he'd like to eat a child, but his parents calmly explain that he may not eat a child.
