WHAT MAKES CHICKENS SO FUNNY? Two Picture Book Fiction Reviews
ABOUT THE BOOK
Wake up! The little red chicken is hungry--and sillier than ever--in her latest star turn since debuting in the Caldecott Honor Book Interrupting Chicken.
It's bright and early on a Saturday morning, and the little red chicken wants cookies for breakfast. What better way to persuade Papa than by jarring him awake and gleefully interjecting cookies--and herself!--into every nursery rhyme they read together? Though the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe heartily endorses the little red chicken's plan, Papa has his own idea for a sweet breakfast for his determined daughter. Featuring the same riotous charm and bright, bold art as Interrupting Chicken and Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise, David Ezra Stein's third installment will have any fan with a sweet tooth and a love of meta rhyme clamoring to find out: will the early bird get the cookie?
REVIEW
Having loved the original Interrupting Chicken, I was thrilled when I heard about this third story about the little red chicken's tendency to interrupt her father's reading. In this tale, Chicken wants cookies for breakfast. When her father refuses, she asks him to read to her instead. As her father reads through the book of nursery rhymes, Chicken interrupts over and over again inserting herself and cookies into some of the rhymes. Her father patiently explains that they aren't going to have cookies for breakfast. But Chicken persists in her efforts to persuade him. She concludes her efforts with a poem she writes herself. Once again, Stein has written an amusing tale of family, literature, creativity, and persuasion. His illustrations are lively and amusing and really fun. This tale is bound to be appreciated by children and adults alike. Highly recommended.
ABOUT THE BOOK
From the mega-bestselling author of Dragons Love Tacos and the mega-bestselling illustrator of The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, comes this hilarious new picture book about an irresistible chicken who unexpectedly finds herself on an epic journey during Ancient Times.
Gladys the chicken must be magic. After all, for everyone who encounters her, a wish is granted. The Shepherd Boy wishes to be beautiful, the Brave Swordsman wishes to join the Royal Guard, the Purple Pooh-bah wishes for his only daughter to be happy, and the Learned Princess wishes to escape the palace. And one by one, each of these wishes comes true. But . . . is Gladys really magic? Or is everyone making their own fortune? Either way, it adds up to one heck of an adventure for a chicken named Gladys. Blending a classic storybook feel with a thoroughly modern sense of humor, this side-splitting read aloud is perfect for anyone who wishes to see magic in the world--even if they are only looking at a chicken.
REVIEW
This wacky book follows the supposed exploits of a wish-granting chicken named Gladys. Each person she comes in contact with, starting with a shepherd boy makes a wish that is fulfilled in some fashion. The shepherd boy grows up and becomes strong and handsome, fulfilling his wish to be beautiful. The Traveling Merchant wishes for the chicken to be gone and she gets stolen. And on it goes. Criminals, a princess, pirates, and even a Purple Pooh-bah all get their wishes granted seemingly through Gladys, although not necessarily in a way they like. This completely ridiculous tale is surprisingly funny and demonstrates that life can be full of surprises. Rex's over-the-top illustrations match the exaggerated tone of the text to make a hilarious folktale full of absurdity and good spirits.
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