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This week, I’m adding another subversive picture book by an author illustrator to my list. Seems like we see this type of book more often from a single creator, and I wonder if that’s because they don’t have to write the art notes that clue the reader in on their subversive vision. That said, one of my all-time faves is Duckworth the Difficult Child, and that was submitted as an author-only text before Julia Sardá and her fabulous illustrations elevated it to exquisite heights. But I digress. We’re here to talk about monsters, the kind that do NOT eat children.
First, I would show the read aloud group or individual child the title page to the book.
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And ask them, “Would you trust this monster?” Why or why not? Kids need practice interpreting facial expressions and body language, and anticipating what might come next.
Then I’d start reading.
If someone were to walk up to you and tell you “I do not eat children” out of the blue, would you believe them? As an adult, my first thought is, “The monster doth protest too much.”
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I wouldn’t point out the missing child on this page. I’d let kids discover it themselves.
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That monster looks anything but friendly and truthful, wouldn’t you say? And children keep going missing with each page turn. I can just imagine the hoots and howls and screeches of children as we progress deeper into the dark reaches of this book, along with the monster who—ah—doesn’t eat them.
And, oh, the ending. True subversion. I love that the perfect ending arrives in the form of the child who’s been studiously reading a book, as books are clearly essential for survival in a monster eat child world. This is one of those read alouds that will bring the house down.
Activities:
Pair this with I’d Really Like to Eat a Child by Sylviane Donnio. How are the two books the same? How are they different?
Make paper monster bookmarks.
Pair this book with The Monster Above the Bed by Kailei Pew, illustrated by Steph Lew. Who’s the monster in this book?
Title: I Do Not Eat Children
Author/Illustrator: Marcus Cutler
Publisher: Little Brown, 2024
Ages: Pre-k – 3rd grade
Themes: monsters, humor
For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.
Jilanne Hoffmann 
Another fun hungry monster book is Eat Pete! by Michael Rex. And I’ve always loved A Hungry Lion, or A Dwindling Assortment of Animals by Lucy Ruth Cummins, which has a Lion standing in for a monster.
Oh, I haven’t seen Eat Pete! I’ll have to check it out. But I love A Hungry Lion, or a Dwindling Assortment of Animals. In this book, the first person narration, the sparse text, and the single twist of an ending make it a bit of a different experience.
Jilanne, this sounds amazing. I love the disappearance of the first two kids, even though the monster doesn’t appear to have moved. A Hungry Lion could pair well with this book. Thanks for the introduction, I am excited to go find it!
It’s quite fun and sure to be a read aloud hit. And the text is far shorter than the Lion book, and yes, the illustrations are the true stars of this book.
This looks like fun, unless you’re reading it to a child you actually like who doesn’t understand the humor yet and then maybe it should wait until they are older. 😂😂😂
Ha! Yes!!! It is best to avoid trauma at all cost! Especially when it comes to monsters and eating children.
Every time I read An Accidental Hero with my little 💝 on my recent trip, the first visit since it came out, she kept trying to move the skink off Wombat’s head in the spread where they are reading. She’s a big fan of the book but also personal space boundaries! 😂
Perfect for the classroom! I love it! Thank you, as I move into the kitchen to make breakfast! Yum!♥️
Yes, it is! And I hope you had a scrumptious, but child-free breakfast..because your come-uppance might echo Monster’s, LOL