The Trouble with Chickens
written by Doreen Cronin; illustrated by Kevin Cornell
Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins, 2011
128 pages
For children 7-11
A hard-boiled private eye. A dame in distress. A missing, er, relative (or two).
Hmm.
Readers will find no Maltese Falcons in Doreen Cronin's new mystery, just chickens and dogs and some funny storytelling. The chapter book opens with J.J. Tully, the reluctant detective and a former search-and-rescue dog, meeting his client for the first time:
She was a short, tired-looking bird with a funny red comb on her head.
It looked about as useful to her as a spoon is to a snake.
An excellent read-aloud for any age, The Trouble with Chickens is the first book in a new series starring J.J. Tully. Doreen Cronin, who also wrote such picture books as Diary of a Worm and Click, Clack, Moo, has made a successful leap into middle-grade fiction.
I can't wait to see more in this series!
Posted by: :paula | March 22, 2011 at 08:58 PM
This is on the top of my to-read pile. Have you seen More Bears by Kenn Nesbitt? (That might seem like a random question, but get the book and read it and you'll see why I asked!!)
Posted by: Mary Lee | March 23, 2011 at 06:42 AM
Paula--Me, too! I read this aloud to my sixth grader, and we both thought it was hilarious. Certainly a strong candidate for the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award.
Mary Lee, it would make a quick read-aloud for your fourth graders--and two great vocabulary words play a role in the story. But I won't give away more...
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | March 23, 2011 at 10:28 AM
This book looks great fun, but is perhaps a little babyish for 11 year olds!
Posted by: 6C | April 06, 2011 at 08:04 AM
Give it a read & see what you think!
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | April 08, 2011 at 11:44 AM