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Gregory, the Terrible Eater
Gregory, the Terrible Eater, wants orange juice and eggs for breakfast. His parents are terribly upset!
Why can't Gregory eat striped ties and violins, like the rest of the goats?
Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey have entered into the spirit of Mitchell Sharmat's upside-down, turned-around world with bold, wacky, expressive illustrations. The trio's exuberant collaboration provokes healthy laughter and even includes a colorful chart which gives fresh meaning to the concept of "junk food."
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1980
11 people are currently reading
1273 people want to read
About the author
Mitchell Sharmat
39 books10 followersMitchell Sharmat, a graduate of Harvard University, wrote numerous picture books, easy readers, and novels. He was best known for the classic Gregory, the Terrible Eater, a Reading Rainbow Feature Selection and a New York Times Critics’ Pick. In his honor, The Sharmat Collection, displaying the books he has written, was established at the Harvard Graduate School of Education by the Munroe C. Gutman Library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 241 reviews
September 22, 2011
Little Gregory really wants healthy fruits a veggies, but his parents insist that he eat junk like every other goat. Oh the irony!
Of course goats and pigs don't really want to eat crap, that's just what people give them because they are our slaves. Left to their own devices they will have healthy and balanced diets.
It's also kind of effed up how Gregory is just fine until his parents enact a plan to make him conform, and then develops an eating disorder and obesity problem, but it isn't at all portrayed as their fault, no, it is Gregory who needs to learn a lesson. I guess the lesson is do whatever your parents want?
I'm sure I liked this better as a small child, although it was never a favorite. If parents are looking for a more sensible book on picky eating to share with kids, I highly recommend Bread and Jam for Frances instead.
Of course goats and pigs don't really want to eat crap, that's just what people give them because they are our slaves. Left to their own devices they will have healthy and balanced diets.
It's also kind of effed up how Gregory is just fine until his parents enact a plan to make him conform, and then develops an eating disorder and obesity problem, but it isn't at all portrayed as their fault, no, it is Gregory who needs to learn a lesson. I guess the lesson is do whatever your parents want?
I'm sure I liked this better as a small child, although it was never a favorite. If parents are looking for a more sensible book on picky eating to share with kids, I highly recommend Bread and Jam for Frances instead.
July 10, 2011
A Reading Rainbow favorite! What are mother and father goat going to do when their son Gregory won't eat the delicious and nutritious "junk" (as in, tin cans, old coats and rubber tires) that all goats love to eat? When he continues to crave veggies, bread and fruits they take him to the doctor to see what can be done.
Before there was Amy Krause Rosenthal, Mitchell Sharmat brought us this humorous tale that turns things on their heads and teaches a good little lesson in a hilarious an upside-down sort of way.
Before there was Amy Krause Rosenthal, Mitchell Sharmat brought us this humorous tale that turns things on their heads and teaches a good little lesson in a hilarious an upside-down sort of way.
April 19, 2010
“Gregory, the Terrible Eater” is a fantastic book from the mind of Mitchell Sharmat along with illustrations by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey and it is about how a young goat named Gregory refuses to eat the junk from the junkyard that his parents tried to feed him. “Gregory, the Terrible Eater” is the perfect book for parents who want a solution to help their children stop being picky eaters.
Mitchell Sharmat has done an excellent job at writing a story about how a young goat refuses to eat the food that his parents give him until he starts eating everything his parents gave him. Mitchell Sharmat creatively uses animals as the main characters to describe the usual problems that parents face with children who are picky eaters and it was a bit amusing how Mitchell Sharmat made the goats view healthy foods like fruits and vegetables as being disgusting while for humans, fruits and vegetables are considered to be healthy. Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey’s illustrations are cute, especially of the images of Gregory being colored in grey and looking pudgy. Also, the way that Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey make Gregory’s expressions look so realistic as in terms of the face that a child makes whenever he or she is given food that he or she does not like (which is having a pouted look).
“Gregory, the Terrible Eater” is a wonderful book that discusses about how to deal with children who are picky eaters and the importance of not eating too much food. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in the book, however, parents should try to explain to their children about the importance of eating healthy and how goats eat differently from humans before they read them this book.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www0.epinions.com/review/Grego...
Mitchell Sharmat has done an excellent job at writing a story about how a young goat refuses to eat the food that his parents give him until he starts eating everything his parents gave him. Mitchell Sharmat creatively uses animals as the main characters to describe the usual problems that parents face with children who are picky eaters and it was a bit amusing how Mitchell Sharmat made the goats view healthy foods like fruits and vegetables as being disgusting while for humans, fruits and vegetables are considered to be healthy. Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey’s illustrations are cute, especially of the images of Gregory being colored in grey and looking pudgy. Also, the way that Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey make Gregory’s expressions look so realistic as in terms of the face that a child makes whenever he or she is given food that he or she does not like (which is having a pouted look).
“Gregory, the Terrible Eater” is a wonderful book that discusses about how to deal with children who are picky eaters and the importance of not eating too much food. I would recommend this book to children ages four and up since there is nothing inappropriate in the book, however, parents should try to explain to their children about the importance of eating healthy and how goats eat differently from humans before they read them this book.
From my Epinions Review:
http://www0.epinions.com/review/Grego...
October 21, 2021
خیلی احمقانه و بانمک. بچهها عاشقش شدن. کسی هنوز ترجمهش نکرده من بکنم؟ :)))
November 5, 2017
Text-To World
“Gregory, the Terrible Eater” is a cute book about a young goat with eating issues; or what you might think is an eating issue. Gregory finds it appetizing to eat junk food instead of the healthy goat food his parents provide for him. As in real life, parents all the time find it difficult to provide healthy food for their children who are fussy eaters. Most often children like to eat chicken nuggets, French fries, candy, and chips. The parents, on the other hand, try to provide healthy options for their children to eat; such as fruits, vegetables, and baked meats. In this story, the specific heathy goat food is opposite of what he wants to eat, which in real life is healthy. I find this quite ironic. His parents take him to the doctor to try suggestions on helping him eat better. Introducing new foods, one at a time is the suggestion. Using this in real life is a fabulous idea, and I can see parents finding comfort in a solution to their children’s eating issues.
“Gregory, the Terrible Eater” is a cute book about a young goat with eating issues; or what you might think is an eating issue. Gregory finds it appetizing to eat junk food instead of the healthy goat food his parents provide for him. As in real life, parents all the time find it difficult to provide healthy food for their children who are fussy eaters. Most often children like to eat chicken nuggets, French fries, candy, and chips. The parents, on the other hand, try to provide healthy options for their children to eat; such as fruits, vegetables, and baked meats. In this story, the specific heathy goat food is opposite of what he wants to eat, which in real life is healthy. I find this quite ironic. His parents take him to the doctor to try suggestions on helping him eat better. Introducing new foods, one at a time is the suggestion. Using this in real life is a fabulous idea, and I can see parents finding comfort in a solution to their children’s eating issues.
June 13, 2011
This book is about a goat, not just any ordinary goat, a goat who wants to eat fruit, vegetables and fishies. Well, I bet you guys out there have eaten these foods so you probably know what he's eating, right. His parents eat junk like coats, pants, tin cans, ice cream boxes, you know, all that kind of stuff. Oh, and don't forget, tires, yeah.
In the book you will see a little goat called Gregory. Remember that now.
My favorite part is the end of the book because Gregory, well, you remember his name, right, he eats scrambled eggs and orange juice and wax paper on the side, actually, two waxed papers I mean.
Rated and reviewed by Dylan, age 8.
In the book you will see a little goat called Gregory. Remember that now.
My favorite part is the end of the book because Gregory, well, you remember his name, right, he eats scrambled eggs and orange juice and wax paper on the side, actually, two waxed papers I mean.
Rated and reviewed by Dylan, age 8.
June 17, 2013
The pictures were decent, the story was better. About a little goat named Gregory who just won't eat his tires and rubber boots for dinner. Instead he wants fruits and veggies and meat. His parents are exasperated with him. This is a good story for any child, but especially one who is a bad eater. My kids all loved it, but my 5 yr old, who is a notoriously bad eater, liked it the best. If you're having the kids read it, it's probably somewhere between a level 2 and 3. A good solid story that will keep the Kindergartener's and up interested.
May 31, 2020
This is a cute children’s picture book about Gregory who is a goat, and much to his parents dismay, he has a taste for human food like chicken, vegetables, and fruit. They would much prefer that he eat “proper” foods like tin cans, sweaters, and socks.
May 17, 2022
2022
2021
Adorable!
2021
Adorable!
December 12, 2024
Gregory struggles to eat normal goat food, like old rubber boots, cardboard, or shirts, buttons and all.
After a trip to the doctor with concerns about his lack of appetite, Gregory’s parents change tactics, but it works a little too well. They resolve this by making him sick on purpose, which works a treat in the end.
Lots of little twists and turns, but overall I hardly loved it. This was my first time reading it, but I can see it feeling nostalgic for others!
After a trip to the doctor with concerns about his lack of appetite, Gregory’s parents change tactics, but it works a little too well. They resolve this by making him sick on purpose, which works a treat in the end.
Lots of little twists and turns, but overall I hardly loved it. This was my first time reading it, but I can see it feeling nostalgic for others!
January 19, 2023
A favorite
March 26, 2022
Fun flip of perspectives. Scott and I read this together for Cora’s 1st Grade classroom and they ate it up. It’s a good reminder of controling eating habits, too.
Mother Tongue Notes: The reading is a bit challenging for beginners because they can’t guess the story line. Also, the illustrations make some of the food difficult to identify. It’s easy to bring up cultural differences surrounding what we eat, while reading the book. There are several speakers, so it can be used easily in a shared reading setting.
Mother Tongue Notes: The reading is a bit challenging for beginners because they can’t guess the story line. Also, the illustrations make some of the food difficult to identify. It’s easy to bring up cultural differences surrounding what we eat, while reading the book. There are several speakers, so it can be used easily in a shared reading setting.
July 16, 2021
I kept running across this book on the library shelves at my local library. I just assumed it was a silly book that wouldn't even be very interesting. Then this past year the highschool teacher at the school that I was teaching at, read this to all the students during a fun afternoon. The children loved it and I thought it made for a great read-aloud! In reality, it might not have very much value or teach much of a moral but I'd say its a great way to get any child excited about books!
January 2, 2010
This is a fun tale about nutrition that takes an upside down viewpoint about what's good to eat. Gregory's parents have the typical problem of trying to get their son to try new foods and eat what they prepare for him. Only the "food" is inedible from our perspective, which makes for a humorous story. Our girls enjoyed this tale.
July 23, 2024
I loved how at first, Gregory turned the tables on his parents by wanting to eat veggies and fruits rather than garbage. Then he made a complete turn-around and overate the garbage. The lumpy cartoon illustrations matched the text very well. Very, very funny.
July 5, 2008
A cleverly told message about junk food versus healthy food!
October 9, 2025
THE CLASSIC! Quit eatin that junkfood, Gregory!
September 15, 2015
This is a weird book, but an enjoyable one. The best part? I remember the Reading Rainbow episode it was in!
April 22, 2021
Gregory is a goat who was also a picky eater. His parents offered items that were not food. Gregory wanted real human food, but his parents disagreed and said he was a terrible eater. Gregory’s father finally came to the conclusion that Gregory was not eating right, so they took him to the doctor. The doctor concluded that the parents should give Gregory one new food each day until he enjoys everything, so the parents did as they were asked. They started to feed Gregory human food alongside goat food. The parents became proud in the end once Gregory started to eat like a goat. Gregory began eating his parents’ things too, which was not part of the plan, so his parents decided to go grab random junk for Gregory to eat. Gregory then got sick. In conclusion, Gregory ended up wanting human food combined with junk. The lesson for children today is to eat everything in moderation and to mix the healthy food with less unhealthy options. I give this book a five star rating because it teaches children the importance of balance and healthy eating.
read-to-the-girls
February 29, 2020Di and Ri can be picky but I suppose no more than any other kids. They might love something one day and hate it the next. It can be infuriating. So it goes.
This book is weird in place, most notably when Gregory's parents decide to teach him a lesson by preparing a large meal and letting him eat it, seemingly knowing he is going to be sick. That's tough right there. But I guess the book is doing it so you don't have to. Next time my kids are shrieking like banshees for another helping of ice cream (most likely Ri) I am going to try to remind them of what happen to Gregory the Goat.
My guess is poor old Gregory is going to grown up with messed up eating habits.
This book is weird in place, most notably when Gregory's parents decide to teach him a lesson by preparing a large meal and letting him eat it, seemingly knowing he is going to be sick. That's tough right there. But I guess the book is doing it so you don't have to. Next time my kids are shrieking like banshees for another helping of ice cream (most likely Ri) I am going to try to remind them of what happen to Gregory the Goat.
My guess is poor old Gregory is going to grown up with messed up eating habits.
March 27, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: n/a
Audience: Kinder-3rd Grade
A. This book is an animal fantasy since the animals are able to talk to each other, they have emotions and can reason with one another.
B. The author expects the reader to suspend disbelief with the characters since the goat are able to talk to one another.
C. The setting is magic in the real world since the goats are living in your average world but are able to speak.
D. The author is trying to convey that it is okay to be different and you shouldn't have to change to fit someone else's standards.
Awards: n/a
Audience: Kinder-3rd Grade
A. This book is an animal fantasy since the animals are able to talk to each other, they have emotions and can reason with one another.
B. The author expects the reader to suspend disbelief with the characters since the goat are able to talk to one another.
C. The setting is magic in the real world since the goats are living in your average world but are able to speak.
D. The author is trying to convey that it is okay to be different and you shouldn't have to change to fit someone else's standards.
October 18, 2019
Genre: Fantasy
Awards: N/A
Audience: K-3rd Grade
A. This book would be considered animal fantasy, because the animals have the ability to talk to each other in a human-like way, which is not realistic.
B. The reader has to suspend disbelief as soon as the characters are introduced, because it is obvious that they are talking animals.
C. The setting would be considered magic in the real world, because while the goats are living in a normal setting they are able to talk to each other (element of magic).
D. I think the main theme of the story is that it is okay to be unique.
Awards: N/A
Audience: K-3rd Grade
A. This book would be considered animal fantasy, because the animals have the ability to talk to each other in a human-like way, which is not realistic.
B. The reader has to suspend disbelief as soon as the characters are introduced, because it is obvious that they are talking animals.
C. The setting would be considered magic in the real world, because while the goats are living in a normal setting they are able to talk to each other (element of magic).
D. I think the main theme of the story is that it is okay to be unique.
January 17, 2026
I chose this book to be on my top 20 best children’s books list for my children’s literature course. I chose this book to be in my top twenty because it is humorous in a way that will capture students attention. Gregory, the main goat, is criticized by his family for eating terribly. Can you believe it?! He eats human food?! He needs to start eating healthier. He needs to eat cans, paper, and foil. I chose this book because it is humorous, uplifting, visually appealing, and perfect for a nutrition lesson and incorporating health into the classroom.
February 16, 2020
Early Primary
Modern Fantasy
This is a helpful book that can aid the teaching of proper nutrition. I like how it was told in a backwards way, from a goat who only wants "nasty, junky food" as his parents see it, when he should really be on a strict diet of pants, tin cans, cardboard, etc. It was full of humorous moments and is a fun new way to look at nutrition, and the pictures add to the humor and the story. I definitely enjoyed the book!
Modern Fantasy
This is a helpful book that can aid the teaching of proper nutrition. I like how it was told in a backwards way, from a goat who only wants "nasty, junky food" as his parents see it, when he should really be on a strict diet of pants, tin cans, cardboard, etc. It was full of humorous moments and is a fun new way to look at nutrition, and the pictures add to the humor and the story. I definitely enjoyed the book!
Read
December 14, 2020My current #1 favorite picture book for reading aloud. I do the voices (Father Goat is the best) and usually end up unable to stifle my laughter toward the end. My 4yo thinks I'm ridiculous. But she likes the book too.
Also I have set a limit of 5 picture books for counting toward my Reading Challenge total and haven't reached it yet on 12/14, so I'm counting this.
p.s. the illustrations are awesome.
Also I have set a limit of 5 picture books for counting toward my Reading Challenge total and haven't reached it yet on 12/14, so I'm counting this.
p.s. the illustrations are awesome.
March 22, 2017
Gregory wants to eat yummy human food, and his parents tell him there's something wrong with him. They manage to get him to eat goat food (tires and clothing and boots) but then he starts to gorge on everything, so they feed him too much on purpose. Gregory gets sick and then opts to eat a balance of human food (fruits and veggies) and goat food (buttons and tin cans and such).
It's not a bad allegory for gradually easing children into eating healthy food, but I dunno about purposely feeding them too much junk.
It's not a bad allegory for gradually easing children into eating healthy food, but I dunno about purposely feeding them too much junk.
August 24, 2020
Gregory the goat is a terrible eater! He only wants to eat things like scrambled eggs and orange juice, no matter how hard his parents try to get him to eat a coat and pants, or a tin can. In order to remedy his picky eating, they give him one new thing at a time, until he likes everything. Now, they have the opposite problem. Gregory won't stop eating!
January 21, 2022
Overall, I really like this book and I remember a little bit from when I was young. However, I wouldn't want to read this book a lot because there is a part when mother and father are talking poorly of their son behind his back. I wouldn't want my class to think maybe their parents talk poorly of them. I like the conversations of healthy and junk food though.
July 7, 2022
If, like me, you have a terrible eater at home, this book is fantastic. Gregory is a goat who likes to eat healthy. His parents prefer foods of the more unhealthy kinds - like coats, shoes and cans. With a little persuasion, Gregory does learn to like more "traditional" goat foods. A hilarious twist on learning to like new foods that all kids (and adults) will get a few giggles out of.
November 19, 2022
When I read this as a child, I was surprised to learn that goats eat trash such as car tires & old shoes. To this day, even after a degree in biology, there is a part of me that suspects goats eat tin cans & other garbage. I give this book 5 stars for making such a deep impression me at the age of five.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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