THE BOOK THAT ATE MY BROTHER

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Author (last name first):
Dahl, Micheal
Publisher, Date of Publication: 
Stone Arch Books /2011
Grade Level/ or Age Level: 
3rd-5th
Classification: 
Fiction 

This book is a chilling tale of an old book unlike any other. A young boy named Tyler who finds an old book while looking for his dog, Buck, who went missing the night before. He takes the old book home to his room. When he hears a growling noise after trying to open the book, he throws  the it into his closet and tries to tell his big brother Jack, who dismisses his ranting as a joke. When Tyler goes missing the next day their parents think he's run away, but Jack knows his brother has been eaten by the book. While he was looking for his brother, Jack looked into the closet and saw his brothers shoes and a big slimy mouth in the book as well as hearing Tyler's voice calling for help from deep inside the ugly mouth. He ran to his room knowing the book was not far behind, and emailed "The Librarian," a man who has been looking for the seven evil books. By the end of Jacks email the old slimy book ate Jack too. 

For months the book lays dormant while waiting for its next victim. At an outdoor library sale a young girl named Iris buys the book thinking that its her favorite book with a misspelled title. When Iris arrives home she hears a growl coming from the book and throws it. Her little brother, Berry, finds it and is eaten. Will Iris be able to help her little brother in time or will she be the old books next victim?

The Illustrations help to demonstrate the story's visual effects. They show how scary the man eating book becomes. Older children who like scary stories will like this book. Use your own discretion because younger children may be alarmed by the cover and the  graphic pictures. There is a glossary, an excerpt about the author and the illustrator. There are details about the  heroes and villains in this book, as well as web sites children can go to enjoy more books like this one. There is an AR test available for this book too.

Reviewed By: Lila Davis (Night Circulation Manager at Midwestern State Universities Moffett Library)