book cover

The Incredible Book Eating Boy

by Oliver Jeffers

Interest age: 3+
Reading age: 6+

Published by HarperCollins, 2007

  • Fantasy
  • Funny
  • Picture books

About this book

Henry loves books. However, his pleasure isn't derived from reading them but from eating them instead. He gulps down all kinds of books, from storybooks to dictionaries and discovers that the more he eats, the smarter he gets.

Soon his knowledge knows no bounds. This rapid consumption of literature eventually becomes too much for Henry to handle and his learning gets all mixed up; the book eating has to stop.

One day Henry decides to actually try reading one of his half-eaten books and a whole new world opens up before him. He realises that reading books can still make him the smartest person on earth, but just not quite as speedily as his previous method! Sumptuously produced, with quirky, collage style illustrations, this homage to books will find fans in children and adults alike.

About the author

As a picture book creator Oliver Jeffers has been the recipient of some of children's books highest accolades, including the Nestle Gold Medal for Lost and Found and the Irish Picture Book of the Year for The Incredible Book Eating Boy. Other award-winning titles include The Way Back Home, which was shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway medal. An animated film of Oliver's book Lost and Found won a BAFTA for Best Animation in 2009. Oliver was born in Belfast but now lives in New York City.

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