From a girl who loves books

Children need to see how reading, literacy and books are central to their world. Seeing siblings, parents and others reading, enjoying and involved with books is part of the solution. Providing quality content goes a long way to building lifelong rapport with books. In rare circumstances we find a picture book that combines all of the essential elements. The incredible book eating boy is one such treasure.

Join Henry as he eats story books, dictionaries, atlases, joke books, books of facts, even maths books. The result of eating all of these books is that Henry becomes smarter than his teacher. For Henry "red ones were his favourite." unfortunately Henry doesn't quite become the smartest person in the world. Instead, he begins to turn "green, greener, greenest....beginning to feel a little ill" finally realizing that eating might not be the best way of tackling a book after all.

Discovering how to read a book turns Henry's world around, as he decides that becoming the smartest person in the world might still be achievable, even if it does take him a little bit longer than originally planned.

With wonderfully evocative illustrations by the author, this picture book takes something ordinary, makes it extraordinary and then gives it it's proper place in our world.

The incredible book eating boy by Oliver Jeffers Illustrated by the author
Harper Collins Children's Books, Great Britain, 2006.

If you like this picture book see Iggy Peck architect for another young boy with a passion for learning. (see separate blog post)

Iggy Peck architect does Bachelard.

Continuing the discussion about children and their using home as their departure point for their interaction with the world at large. Starting school is another departure point in the journey to develop a concept of the world around them that is relevant and meaningful. What is valid for one child may not register for another child. That is the beauty of life and dreaming. We develop a scenario unique to each individual, adult or child.

Iggy Peck architect is the perfect picture book to pull this concept together. Starting at home, the lively text, moves on to the school environment and beyond. All the while our hero takes us along looking at the world from his unique viewpoint.

"Young Iggy Peck is an architect and has been since he was two, when he built a great tower - in only an hour - with nothing but diapers and glue."

In turn Iggy tackles, the Sphinx, a church and a temple, before building a castle from chalk.

"Dear Ig made it until second grade when his teacher was Miss Lila Greer. On the very first day, she had this to say: "we do not talk buildings in here!"

Iggy's world takes a down hill turn as he tolerates school without the buffer of his passion for building. All is looking dire until an excursion one day, where Iggy steps to the fore to rescue not only Miss Greer, but his 16 fellow students as well.

Miss Greer has one of life's lightbulb moments....."It all became clear to Miss Greer, as she crossed the bridge over the stream. There are worse things to do when you're in grade two than to spend your time building a dream."

Bachelard couldn't have said it better.

Iggy Peck architect by Andrea Beatty.
Illustrated by David Roberts
Harry N. Abrams Inc. 2007

If you like this picture book about a boy and his experience at school see also: Marshall Armstrong is new to our school as well as Sunday Chutney.