I just didn't get Theodore's motivation! He seemed to be happy in his cave all alone, I'd have guessed that he would easily just eat the kid when he was hungry, but for some reason he's swayed by the laughter of a child? Not buying it. It should have ended with Theodore munching on the kid's bones and the moral being that you shouldn't play with dragons because they will eat you. ( )

After a year of owning it, this book remains a favorite of the two boys to whom it was gifted. ( )

This is a great book for a beginner reader that has a lot of figurative language, onomatopoeia, in it. It would make for a great lesson on writing/adding in descriptive words to a story. The pictures have precise details that flow together with the words on the page. I would use this book for a a guided reading lesson because it will make for an interesting picture walk and new vocabulary. I would recommend this for kindergartener - third grade level readers. ( )

Theodore the dragon lurks in his dark, quiet cave, uninterested in eating the various creatures that come by and visit him. Then a persistent little boy with a sword comes charging in, and won't leave him alone. Finally roused from his apathy, Theodore gives chase, interested in eating someone at last. But the boy's laughter dissuades him, and he joins in the fun and games instead. After all... he can always eat the boy later!

I enjoyed I Will Not Eat You, appreciating both the humorous story from author Adam Lehrhaupt, and the appealing illustrations from artist Scott Magoon. It's clear that what Theodore really needed was not a snack, but rather some company and amusement, which is exactly what the boy provided. The final line of the story gives a nice Jon Klassen style ending to the book, with the implication that some eating might still occur. Magoon's artwork, in which Theodore does not appear for some ways into the book, is engrossing. I particularly liked the scene in which the boy falls down, and a magical red Theodore looms over him - just lovely! Recommended to all young children who dream of dragons, or to anyone looking for children's stories about imaginative play. ( )

Summary: Something is in the cave, and something keeps passing up an easy meal. Multiple animals pass by Theodore’s cave, and he nicely tells them to go away. Until…a boy comes to Theodore’s cave. An annoying boy. Theodore decides that perhaps he will eat this boy, but will he?

Personal Response: For a simple picture book, this book was highly engaging. The reader has no idea what Theodore is for more than half the book. The surprise of Theodore’s identity makes the book that much better. Up to the point until Theodore is revealed, the reader only sees two eyes in a dark cave. The reader is also left with a cliffhanger at the end of the book. Will Theodore eat the boy, or not? I loved this book.

Curriculum Connections: I read this book aloud to all of our first through third grade classes this week (9 in total) as a possible nominee for Wyoming’s Buckaroo Book Award for K-3 students. I read multiple books to the students and they were able to vote for their favorite, and this book received 25 votes, which tied with Dad’s First Day. It clearly appeals to a wide range of readers. If it makes it to the list of 10 Buckaroo Book Award books for next year, I would use this book to teach a lesson on making predictions and asking questions while we read. ( )