Book of the Week: Chicken Big

Chicken Big by Keith Graves

Published: 2010 Worzella Publishing

Reasons why I liked this book, and chose it as book of the week:

In a way its a retelling of chicken little – a story I love.

This book is hysterically funny! I was literally laughing out loud when I was reading it. Any book that does that is a great book.

Even though Chicken Big is different and (at first) shunned by the other chickens in the itty-bitty hen-house he doesn’t give up on getting them to realize that he’s just like them … only much bigger.

The story reminded me of Dumbo for some reason.

The writing is witty and fun – making it great for children of all ages.

The smaller, regular sized chicks aren’t the sharpest “beaks in the hen” and it definitely shows when the insist on calling  Chicken Big an elephant, a squirrel, an umbrella, and a sweater.

It a good example of showing how judging by ones looks and size is hurtful.

Big Chicken is more than just a chicken – he’s a real hero!

Big Chicken has a real dry sense of humor.

He’s realistic whereas the other chickens aren’t – they are over dramatic and panicked most of the time. One even cries “woe is me” when the eggs have suddenly gone missing.

I really liked how this book illustrated the change in weather – from windy to rainy to sunny.

The smallest chicken on them all peeps – that’s cute!

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Invisible Inkling

Invisible Inkling by Emily Jenkins (will be released April 26th)

Hank Wolowitz is a complex kid who likes to build the Great Wall of China out of match sticks with her downstairs neighbor/friend Chin, who likes to invent new ice cream flavors like his latest cheddar cheese bunny, and he also likes to save ivisible creatures from the clutches of Rootbeer, the dog that lives in Wolowitz’s building.

Okay, so Wolowitz has an overactive imagination, but this isn’t his imagination. He’s actually just rescued an invisible creature, a Bandapat named Inkling who has come to Brooklyn on a very specific mission: to find squash. But Wolowitz doesn’t have squash, and finding it is the least of his problems. What he has is a bully, a mean looking one that is out to take his sprinkles and make his life miserable. That is, until Inkling steps in.

 Invisible Inkling written by Emily Jenkins is a laugh out loud kind of book. From the very first page to the very last, readers will find themselves laughing – either at Inklinkg’s quick wit, or Wolowitz’s antics. Readers will appreciate Jenkins apparent sense of humor.

Fit for kids of all ages, Invisible Inkling is well written, imaginative, and full of realistically lovable characters – characters that young readers will easily be able to identify and sympathize with. Wolowitz is openly honest, and in many ways a typical fourth grader struggling with many fourth grade issues, like bullying. Jenkins deals with the issue of bullies and bullying with tact, and excels at it.

The Sleepers

The Sleepers by Sylvia Plath

“No map traces the street

Where those two sleepers are.

We have lost track of it.

They lie as if under water

In a blue, unchanging light,

The French window ajar

Curtained with yellow lace.

Through the narrow crack

Odors of wet earth rise.

The snail leaves a silver track;

Dark thickets hedge the house.

We take a backward look.

Among petals pale as death

And leaves steadfast in shape

They sleep on, mouth to mouth.

A White mist is going up.

The small green nostrils breathe,

And they turn in their sleep.

Ousted from that warm bed

We are a dream they dream.

Their eyelids keep the shade.

No harm can come to them.

We cast out skins and slide

Into another time.”

Dalmatian Plantation

Dalmatian Plantation from Disney’s 101 Dalmatians

“We’ll have a dalmatian plantation

Where our population can grow

If this new location

Our whole aggregation

Will love our plantation home

Dalmatian Plantation home.”

The Last Little Blue Envelope

The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson (will be released on April 26th. However, it’s already been spotted out in the wilds of NYC – Union Square to be exact)

Aunt Peg has taught Ginny a great deal. She’s taught her to take life as it comes, and to run towards adventure, not away from it. So when Ginny returns to the States after her European adventure, she’s a changed girl. A girl who has clipped off her familiar braids and has resigned herself to the adventure of not knowing what the last, stolen blue envelope said.

Enter Oliver – a mysterious stranger who contacts Ginny in regards to a set of thirteen blue envelopes. It seems that he has possession of, not only Ginny’s backpack, but also the last little blue envelope.

In full Aunt Peg fashion Ginny sets out for another adventure, this time to get back what is rightfully her’s. But Oliver doesn’t plan on just giving them back to her. No. That’s just too easy. Whatever conniving plan he has up his sleeve, Ginny’s game for a band new adventure.

Maureen Johnson has done it again! The Last Little Blue Envelope is just as charming, endearing, and adventurous as it’s mate 13 Little Blue Envelopes. Readers will find comfort in familiar characters, yet will love getting to know new ones.

Full of humor and quick wit, readers will truly come to appreciate Johnson’s apparent sense of humor. What I really loved about The Last Little Blue Envelope was that, not only did Ginny find closure for herself and Aunt Peg, but all of Johnson’s readers who’ve traveled alongside Ginny, have also found the same.

The Daisy Follows Soft The Sun

The Daisy Follows Soft the Sun by Emily Dickenson

“The daisy follows soft the sun,

And when his golden walk is done,

Sits shyly at his feet.

He, waking, finds the flower near.

“Wherefore, marauder, art thou here?”

“Because, sir, love is sweet!”

We are the flower, Thou the sun!

Forgive us, if as days decline,

We nearer steal to Thee – –

Enamoured of the parting west,

The peace, the flight, the amethyst,

Night’s possibility!”

Evening Star

Evening Star by Edgar Allan Poe

” ‘Twas noontide of summer,

And mid – time of night;

And stars, in their orbits,

Shone pale, thro’ the light,

Of the brighter, cold moon,

‘Mid planets her slaves,

Herself in the Heavens,

Her beam on the waves.

I gazed awhile

On her cold smile;

Too cold – too cold for me –

There pass’d, as a shroud,

A fleecy cloud,

And I turned away to thee,

Proud Evening Star,

In thy glory afar,

And dearer thy beam shall be;

For joy to my heart

Is the proud part

Thou bearest in Heaven at night,

And more I admire

Thy distant fire,

Than that colder, lowly light.”