I'd Really Like to Eat a Child

Little Achilles the crocodile is asserting his first stabs at independence to his parents--he turns into a finicky eater and demands some grown-up food. "But we eat bananas for breakfast," his mother entreats. Achilles' parents try to entice him with his favorite foods: chocolate cake (sneakily made with lots of fresh milk) or a long sausage. The parents theatrically pretend it's a disaster: "Boo-hoo-hoo! Our Achilles won't eat" and let the youngster test the waters of his individual power. "Achilles was beginning to feel strange and rather weak all over--which is exactly what happens when you haven't eaten your breakfast," so he heads off for a swim where he spies a little girl. Expounding all his ferociousness to the little girl, Achilles comes across as ridiculously little and cute. The girl grabs him by the tale, tickles his belly, gets bored and splunks him in the river. Achilles goes home to eat his bananas, and look forward to the day he is big enough to eat a child. This is excellent storytime fare from a French author and illustrator team. Do not overlook the fun this story brings forth!

This book is great for those of us with a bit of tongue in cheek sense of humor. Luckily, I'm passing that along to my kids and they think this is rather hilarious.

A cute, hilarious, innocent book about a little crocodile named Achilles who decides he wants to hunt down little children, even though his parents keep telling him to eat bananas for breakfast if he wants to grown big and strong. Achilles is a very loveable character, and the punchline to the story is lots of fun. If you enjoyed this one, you might also want to check out Mo Willems' "Leonardo The Terrible Monster," which has a similar plot and an equally adorable hero. (ReadThatAgain!)

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.

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.