PDF featuring cross-curricular ideas
KS1
Years 1-2
The Incredible Book Eating Boy is an amazing gem from the hand and mind of the supremely original Oliver Jeffers. It will help children to work up an appetite for reading that will continue to nourish them well into the future…
Just the title of this book is enough to intrigue young readers to open its pages. And, once they do, they quickly lose themselves in the quirky and surprising world of Henry, the Incredible Book Eating Boy.
Perhaps it’s because hand and mind combine so perfectly with Jeffers’ work that The Incredible Book Eating Boy serves up such a visual and mental feast for children.
Why teach The Incredible Book Eating Boy?
In the story, we follow Henry as he discovers the world of literature. Illustrations that incorporate pages from old books complement the plot. Henry’s bedroom curtains appear to be made from sections of a French play…
It’s the perfect concept for teachers who are passionate about books and want to plant a seed that will grow into a lifelong love of reading.
However, while we want our children to devour books of all shapes and sizes, Henry’s approach is somewhat more literal. And it has some surprising and hilarious consequences.
Starter activity
There is currently much talk about encouraging children to read for pleasure. There are many ways to use this story as a starting point.
It can be interesting to bring in the books you loved as a child. Share your favourite authors, and read poems you learnt when you were the children’s age.
They are always intrigued by the idea of you as a child. Seeing the dog-eared, yellowing pages of your past loves is a wonderful way of instilling the concept of how special and lasting our encounters with books are.
Why not have a favourite book morning where each child brings their own personal ‘old friend’ to share? Even better, encourage parents and family members to bring in their favourites.
Create a display of the books with a quote from each owner saying why they chose their book. The same idea can be extended to the whole school. Try a ‘Best Book in the World’ week. Ask all staff and pupils to bring in and talk about their special book.
This could include a book swap morning where children persuade someone else to try their favourite and, once they have read it, compare thoughts.
Judy Clark is primary adviser at the National Literacy Trust. She is also English ITE lecturer, and Talk4writing Adviser, together with Pie Corbett.
