The Incredible Book Eating Boy

Written & illustrated by Oliver Jeffers

A boy eats books to get smarter, but it backfires. Can he find a better way?

5.3/7 Bookroo experts·4.3/5 Goodreads · 8,058 ratings

32 pages· 429 words· Est. 4 min read-aloud

$18.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Henry loves books, but not in the usual way—he devours them, literally. As he munches through pages, he becomes smarter, aiming to be the world's smartest boy. But when his stomach rebels and knowledge becomes a jumbled mess, Henry faces a dilemma. Can he discover a way to enjoy books without eating them? Dive into this quirky tale where the joy of reading takes a deliciously unexpected turn. Will Henry's appetite for knowledge find a new path?

From the publisher

Like many children, Henry loves books. But Henry doesn’t like to read books, he likes to eat them. Big books, picture books, reference books . . . if it has pages, Henry chews them up and swallows (but red ones are his favorite). And the more he eats, the smarter he gets—he’s on his way to being the smartest boy in the world! But one day he feels sick to his stomach. And the information is so jumbled up inside, he can’t digest it! Can Henry find a way to enjoy books without using his teeth?

With a stunning new artistic style and a die-cut surprise, Oliver Jeffers celebrates the joys of reading in this charming and quirky picture book. It’s almost good enough to eat.

At a glance

Format
Pages: 32
Words: 429
Reading age: 4–8
Audience: Picture
Lexile: AD550L

Themes & topics

Books about food Books about reading Books about books and libraries Books about books

Inside the book

A peek between the covers

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.3

out of 7

5.5

“This book is a lot of fun. It's clever and silly, with the added bonus of being a book about loving books! The illustrations are creative and engaging, and kept my toddler hooked to the last page!”

Lauren Hancock

Trusted reviewer

5.0

“Meanders a bit but in the end I love how this encourages reading!”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

For readers who can't stop at one