Don't Eat Eustace

by Lian Cho

Author-illustrator Lian Cho of Oh, Olive! and Pig Town Party delivers her third hilarious picture book about a bear and the fish, named Eustace, that they're trying to make their lunch. But a dash of diversion, a pinch of luck, and the surprising power of friendship just might save Eustace after all!?


Today’s Lunch Special: Freshly caught fish.

Bear lives alone in a lighthouse.

Bear mends their clothes, sweeps the floors, and catches their own lunch.

Today's lunch is Eustace.

Eustace would really like to live. (He has a girlfriend after all.)

Will Eustace be released back into the sea? Or will he end up in Bear's stock pot?

Find out in this funny adventure filled with brilliant illustrations and lots of humor.

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Animals, Childrens, Friendship, Food, Fiction

48 pages, Hardcover

Published October 14, 2025

About the author

Lian Cho is a Brooklyn-based illustrator born in Taiwan. She is the author and illustrator of many goofy books for children.

Reviews

[rheanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

nonbinary icon slay. this gave me emotional whiplash.

[Chuck Beilstein · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too woke, even for an ally. Plural pronouns for single character were pointless - grammar is dead.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

I forget why this book crossed my path, but it did so here I am. I still have no clue how to say Eustace, but that fush stole the show. Bear was helpful but the end led me to believe he was taken advantage of by other predators.

[Adrian Lyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book RULES

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The BEST read-aloud, both my kids (5 & 8) were ENTHRALLED and couldn't wait to see what would happen to poor sweet Eustace. This author is a favourite in our house and always delivers on the gorgeous details and hilarious chaos!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute and perfect for storytime to see if kids pick up on what Bear’s original plan is. I think it might go over younger children’s heads at 2 or 3, but they would still like it. I would recommend this one for 4-5 years old. The illustrations are great, and a couple of the pages are to be turned to the side to see the lighthouse illustration.

[JoJo Ames · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had promise. Cute illustrations and plot. But the pairing of a singular subject (the bear) with a plural pronoun (they) in reference to the subject is awkward and grammatically incorrect. Kids learning to read need to learn correctly. This would confuse them. Disappointing.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a laugh-out-loud story about a very worried fish named Eustace and a grumpy yet kindhearted lighthouse-tending Bear. It's a gentle reminder that no one wants to be eaten and we can choose kindness without turning off mainstream audiences in the least. The characters are a lot of fun and the illustrations are charming.

[Pam Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tomato soup and hot chocolate take care of a lot of problems. LOVE this story and the adorable illustrations! This will be such a fun read-aloud!

[Katy Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you or your readers like dark humor, this one is for you! Don’t Eat Eustace is an early reader book that would be a good fit for students in first through third grade. In the story, Bear is fishing and catches Eustace, a fish, who pleads with Bear not to eat him. Bear agrees, though there’s some continuing tension where Bear talks about how hungry he is, and we’re not sure if he’ll change his mind. Bear’s lunch continues to be pushed back as he helps a shark and a heron. It seems like the story is going in a sweet direction and Eustace decides to go home, but then we see that the shark and heron they helped are now eating all of the fish, so Eustace decides to stay with Bear. Some kids will get a kick out of this story, but I think it’s pretty niche. The mention of Eustace having a girlfriend doesn’t seem age-appropriate for the level of text and pictures and all of the fish screaming and being eaten at the end will definitely be a turnoff to a fair amount of readers. I wouldn’t go out of my way to add this to my collection. The artwork is beautiful and the story is certainly unique, but I don’t think it has a very wide appeal. This was a two-star read for me.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This absolutely adorable book is about Bear whoThis absolutely adorable book is about Bear a lighthouse keeper on a tiny island. He heads out to fish as he is hungry and finds a talking fish. (Yes, I immediately thought about the traditional tale of a talking fish.) The talking fish does not want him to eat her, so she delays by encouraging him to keep the sail that had caught her in the water rather than throwing it back. First a heron, then the bear himself, then a shark are needing items and the bear creates them from that sail. The final creation is a gift Bear gives to Eustace, the fish. Each creation helps the creature it is for in some way. When they get back to the lighthouse the fish is accepting of her fate, but surprised by the resolution made by the bear. Lian Cho has created a fun book that feels a bit like a tradional tale in its simple wisdom. I believe my students will love this sweet story with illustrations that offer the perfect backdrop to the text.

[Sherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beal lives and works alone in a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean. After doing his morning chores he takes his fishing pole down to the shore to catch lunch. But he reels in a colorful sail and the fish inside it named Eustace says “Don’t eat me!” Bear says of course not, as he puts Eustace in the cooking pot. A heron with a broken wing comes by and Eustace suggests Bear make the heron a new wing, and then a shark a colorful coat to make it look friendlier. Bear is very hungry by now and Eustace says he looks very cold in his thin sweater so using almost the last of the sail Bear makes himself a new sweater and a tiny cap for Eustace and declaims he wants just tomato soup and invites Eustace to join him. Taking the fish out release it to go back to his girlfriend they see the not so friendly shark terrorizing all the fish and opt for hot cocoa instead.
Cheerful, clean, colorful illustrations and an interesting storyline.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and funny story about a bear who lives in a lighthouse. Every day, Bear goes out to fish. On this day, Bear catches a colourful patchwork sail, and in that sail is an equally colourful fish - Eustace. Eustace really doesn't want to be Bear's lunch (he's got a girlfriend after all). Will he end up in Bear's stockpot? Or will each of them end up with a new friend?

Don't Eat Eustace combines adorably and (deceptively) simple, colourful artwork (I LOVE the design of the patchwork sail!) with a dry, slightly cheeky and subversive sense of humour that makes it very fun to re-read (the ending had me going 'awww' one second and then laughing out loud the next).

Another one I'd like to try out for Storytime at the Library. 😁

[Forever Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lian Cho, the celebrated illustrator of 100 Dragons All Named Broccoli, returns with a zany adventure that channels an Aesop’s fable vibe. When Bear, a solitary lighthouse resident, catches a fish named Eustace for lunch, Eustace must use his wits to outsmart his captor—a struggle that ultimately leads to a heartwarming and unlikely friendship. The illustrations offer a vibrant graphic novel feel, using a cartoony style that effectively captures the wacky but dark humor children often find irresistible. While the "stock pot" tension might seem a bit dark to some adults, the narrative prioritizes character agency and cleverness. Kids will enjoy the repetitive structure and problem-solving as the story builds to a satisfying, albeit somewhat shocking, conclusion.

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

In all honesty, this is one of the funniest picture books I have read this year. I think it would be fun to read to my young relatives.

Bear loves their routine. They get up in the morning, eat breakfast, then go fishing. And by the time they are done fishing, they are always hungry. But today, Bear finds something unusual. A big sail has caught on their fishing hook. And a little fish named Eustace is also under the sail. Eustace knows what is happening immediately. He begs Bear not to eat him (after all, he has a girlfriend!). But Bear is not listening. They are getting him ready to eat. Eustace comes up with a plan to distract Bear. Will it work? Find out and meet a colorful cast of characters along the way!

Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 275

#FirsttoCheckOut #nonbinaryrep

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that rings all the bells for a classic. It has a similar storyline to Joseph Had a Little Overcoat but with a lighthouse Bear and a colorful fish named Eustace. What happens when Bear catches not only a pretty sailcloth lost at sea, but a fish inside it!

A magically unfolding story wherein we meet a heron, a shark, and just might have time for a bit of hot chocolate.

Themes: animals, friendship, food, humor
Ages: preK-2nd grade
Pub year: 2025

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello bear. Bear lives alone. In a lighthouse. Every day Bear fishes for food. One day, they catch a fish tangled in a colorful sail. The fish introduces himself as Eustace and begs bear not to eat him. Bear SAYS they won't... but Eustace is pretty sure he is on the menu. Fortunately there are interruptions. A heron, a shark... and with Eustace's help, Bear makes helpful items from the colorful sail. But when the sail is all used up, will Eustace be Bear's dinner? Or guest?

This is a very cute story and it has a bit of a twisty ending!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank HarperAudio Children's and NetGalley for a free ALC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun, silly story about making friends in the most unlikely of places. Also has a great introduction of Mercy as concept for young kids! I liked the story in a conceptual level as much as I liked it as just a fun entertaining read. Which is what I want in a great picture book.

[Zan Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Today's lunch special: Freshly caught fish. Bear lives alone in a lighthouse. Bear mends their clothes, sweeps the floors, and catches their own lunch. Today's lunch is Eustace. Eustace would really like to live. (He has a girlfriend after all.) Will Eustace be released back into the sea? Or will he end up in Bear's stock pot? Find out in this funny adventure filled with brilliant illustrations and lots of humor."--

[Shannon Barrett · Rating 1 out of 5]

AI Prompt:
Please write a one star book review for a woke children’s book that insists on using plural pronouns for animal characters. The review should mostly be about a text conversation I had with my old friend Chad about poetry. It should start with the phrase “last night I texted my childhood friend Chad about a recent poem he wrote. I liked it.” At the end of the review it should mention that I wished my friend would actually publish some of his poems.

[Renee Brazeau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear lives in a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean. One day he catches Eustace, a fish, and plans on making a fish stew for dinner. As he is making the stew, he continues to get distracted by friends nearby. Will Eustace be dinner or become a friend? A cozy maritime story about making, friendship, and giving.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of madcap, bizarre book that I would have loved as a child, and still adore as an adult today. I love that Cho never quite takes you where you think the story is going to go. Delightful illustrations and a silly plot will draw readers in. I liked the casual use of they/them pronouns for some of the characters too.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silly story about a grumpy bear who becomes friends with a fish and they help a shark and heron by making things with a picnic blanket. Then the fish decides not to go back home for a very silly, twisty ending.
I love her humor and style of art.

[Frank McGirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edgy, but wonderful.

[Cara McFetridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

would've loved if The Lighthouse ended as cheerfully. eustace forever

[Skylar Kaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeously textured watercolor illustrations paired with a laugh-out-loud, punchy ending! A book I will treasure for years to come.

[Jessica Yoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A four-year-old's review: "I loved it... who's Eustace?" Lian Cho is a favorite in our house, and this book was so fun! Buy it, request it, borrow it, read it!

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Eustace! This was a very funny little book with a shocking twist of an ending! Had a lot of fun reading it!

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read for little kids who might want to know what will happened to Eustace.