Pick of the Week: The Incredible Book Eating Boy

The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers (Philomel Books)

I've seen plenty of babies and toddlers attempt to "eat" books (no judgement here - it's totally developmentally appropriate, as they explore their world through their senses). I'm sure it's possible that some of you may have wondered about whether one could gain knowledge if one digested his or her books, literally (maybe a little judgement here, ha ha). Well, perhaps we can all take an imaginative ride into what might happen if someone attempted just that very thing:

Henry, like many children, loves books. However, unlike most children, he doesn't read them, he eats them. He'll eat anything, too - big books, small books, reference books, picture books... Amazingly, he really does grow smarter with all of these facts he's digesting. After awhile, though, all of those facts get jumbled inside of him. He's eating too many books and too quickly for him to fully digest each morsel of knowledge. All of this chaos inside creates a stomachache for Henry. Perhaps he'll find another way to love books, gain knowledge, and avoid feeling ill. Check out this picture book by Oliver Jeffers and find out what happens to this young bibliophile.