Oddly it looks like this book has been renamed to be slightly more polite. What a shame! Anyway, when we first bought / reviewed this book it was called "I Really Want to Eat a Child" and was one of the reasons we fell hook line and sinker in love with all things kidlit and comic-shaped from across the English Channel.

The French have the sort of children's book industry that we can only look on with enviable eyes. They see children's books as an art form in their own right, not bound by the usual formulaic rules and regs that we over here in the UK have to put up with.

Two of French kidlit's finest talents - Sylviane Donnio and Dorothee De Monfried collaborated on this brilliant book about a baby crocodile called Achilles who is getting a bit fed up with his parents' usual dishings up at the dinner table.

Achilles wants something more substantial to sink his tiny little teeth into. In fact Achilles, adorable as he is, wants to eat a child.

Despite Mum and Dad's gentle cajoling, Achilles goes on a self-inflicted hunger strike until he sees his opportunity to fulfil his hungry ambition. But the best laid plans of mice, men and tiny little crocodiles can often be thwarted by the smart little brains of children - and that's exactly what happens in this story.

It's the perfect example of an irreverent subject slowly building up to a surprise conclusion, and we\re a little bit sad the book got renamed. Why do folk do this? Who on earth could be offended by little Achilles?!

Original Review Link: 

ReadItDaddy's Book of the Week, week ending Friday 15th February 2013 - "I Really Want To Eat A Child" by Sylviane Donnio and Dorothee De Monfried (Hodder Children's Books)

Achilles the crocodile is grumpy. Achilles the crocodile is also very naughty. Achilles the crocodile does not want to eat bananas for breakfast any more. Achilles the crocodile wants to eat...a child!

We've had our eye on this book for ages and finally managed to pick it up. The title caught our eye, but the book itself is such a well observed look at the way children think (even kid crocs!) that it is very deserving of our prestigious "Book of the Week" status.

Achilles begins to annoy his mum and dad as they put all manner of fantastic fare in front of him, trying to tempt him away from his single-minded goal of scoffing down a child. He won't be coaxed, cajoled or reasoned with (sound familiar, parents? Still trying to get your child to eat spinach or onions? Yep us too!)

Like most children (and probably crocs) Achilles has to find out the hard way that perhaps eating a child won't be quite as easy as it seems.

There's such a delicious payoff at the end of this, and throughout it subtly mixes two things children absolutely love to see in their books. A pinch of naughty and subversive behaviour, and a character that's engaging but also a little bit scary and dangerous (even as tiny as Achilles is!)

Thoroughly recommended and every bit as great as we hoped it would be.

Charlotte's best bit: The lovely chocolate cake Achilles parents try to tempt him with. Charlotte only 'does' one type of cake, and it's chocolate cake. The gooier the better!

Daddy's favourite bit: Great repetition, brilliant and simple illustrations and the sort of title that makes you sit up and take notice even before you've opened the front cover. Sublime!