Interrupting Chicken

Stein, David Ezra. Interrupting Chicken. Illustrated by David Ezra Stein. Candlewick Press, 2010. 32 pages. $16.99. ISBN 9780763641689.

Summary:

It’s bedtime for the little red chicken, but first she needs her nightly bedtime story. Papa starts to read Hansel and Gretel, but just when the children are about to follow the old woman into her house, the little red chicken interrupts the story by literally leaping onto the page. This becomes a pattern: Papa begins to read a favorite fairy tale and at the point of conflict the little red chicken interjects. The story concludes with a special story, created by the little red chicken herself. The illustrations may inspire discussion about illustrative styles, as it flips between a cozy home and what looks like the pages of a story.

Curriculum Connections:
This book is a fantastic way to start the year with new Kindergartners. It’s a sweet and funny story that can open a discussion about library behavior expectations, raising hands, and not being “an interrupting chicken” during story time. This book could also launch a unit on fairy tales for young listeners. Older readers might be asked to discern at what point the little red chicken makes her interruptions and to ask them what their thoughts are about why she interrupts at these moments.

Personal Reflections:

This book is just right for reading aloud and has many potential talking points as an adult-directed text.

Awards:

Caldecott Honor Award, 2011; ALA Notable Children’s Books, Younger Readers, 2011; Chickadee Nomination List 2011-2012.

Age/Interest Range: PreK-8; all ages.

Genre, Themes: Fractured Fairy Tales, Fairy tales, Bedtime stories, Reading, Family, Social Skills, Humor.

Read-Alikes: This book recalls the fairy tales retold by James Marshall (The Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Goldilocks) for their humorous twist on classic fairy tales and engaging illustrations. Also Chicken Big by Keith Graves, for a very silly twist on the classic Chicken Little.