The Book That Eats People holds a very special place in my library career memories heart. One afternoon a very cute little patron came into the library ready to return this book. She had it wrapped up in some string because according to her this book was very dangerous because it eats people. She did not want to anyone to get hurt by this crazy book. It was a super cute story she had created and it peaked my interest in the book.
The illustrations of the book are what really caught my attention first. There is a lot of texture and dimension with the way certain pages are created. The people in the story are illustrated in an eerie, goofy, Tim Burton type way that really adds to the weirdness of the story. The illustrations take a little bit of collage elements, a little bit from graphic novel elements, and a little bit of just plain weird elements.
The descriptions in the book are also notable. For example he describes tummy rumble sounds as "a sound like an octopus in a tub of yogurt." (I know we've all had that hunger feeling!)
This book lends itself very well to being read out loud. There are lots of places in the book to utilize different voices and tones to make the story come to life.
You may be wondering if this book is too scary for some audiences. The story does follow a book, that you are meant to believe is the book you hold in your hand, through his journey of eating every person in sight- including children. However, the book is written in just a goofy enough way that even the smallest child can likely discern that no book, much less this book, can actually eat people.
This is a perfect, funny book that children and adults can enjoy together.
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