Customer Reviews

Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man: A North Carolina EOG Adventure

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I purchased the book for my 3rd grade class to be read as a read-a-loud. They can't wait to hear what happens next. The story is age-appropriate--filled with lots of gross and disgusting events that crack them up! The built-in questions for review, prediction, inference, etc... are fabulous. I like too, the "extras" that touch on other curriculum areas. Next year, I'll begin reading it earlier in the year.

Although this book is recommended for third graders getting ready to take the EOG (End of Grade) test in North Carolina, I found that my fourth graders really enjoyed it! The comprehension skills and strategies are so well included that the students didn't realize we were reviewing things that they had learned during the year! They loved the pictures, which I intend to enlarge next year; eventhough the picture took up the entire page, the book itself is on the small side. I am also considering copying the pictures on transparencies and showing them on our overhead as I read the story aloud. I found that reading it aloud to the entire class was very effective and enabled us to have a whole class review session before the big tests! What a great idea! I would recommend this to BOTH 3rd and 4th graders in North Carolina for a fun way to review language arts skills.

If you're looking for an extremely interesting, attention-holding teaching aid for third graders to help prepare them for EOG (End of Grade) tests, you'll find that Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man: A North Carolina EOG Adventure is a valuable teaching resource. Though it is specifically directed to North Carolina third grade teachers, it can be used by teachers and parents no matter what state you live in. It would require that one changes certain references to North Carolina history, politicians, and geography to fit the equivalent facts from whatever state one happens to live in, but this can be done relatively easily. The point is that the book can be a very useful way to teach kids, using humor, and a strong story line involving the plight of a third grader (Chris Robb) who has problems paying attention in class.

Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man can be read by the students or by their teacher or parents, in conjunction with lesson plans related to each chapter.. There are letters and numbers at the end of some of the sentences, which correspond to a chart at the back of the book that lets the teacher/parents know what part of the curriculum and EOG test the material is covering. An example of this is when one of Chris's classmates, Alex, who only remembers past lesson plans because he ran his head into a metal pole, interrupts the teacher, Ms. Bubblebrain and other students), to shout out the types of sentences they're using (the "E" is this example refers to English, and the "33" to knowing the different types of sentences) :

"Settle down," Mrs. Bubblebrain said.
"Imperative sentence! Alex said. E33
"Stop saying that!" Carmela shouted.
"Imperative and exclamatory." Alex said. E33

Chris seems to get into trouble every day. It's not because he's bad or mischievous, but because his attention drifts and he finds it difficult to retain knowledge. Still, Ms. Bubblebrain tries her best to get him to learn and respond correctly to questions she asks him in class. He daydreams about things like flying purple hamsters, though, and asks to use the restroom or get a drink from the water faucet, to try to be out of the classroom as much as possible.

What the teachers, kids, and parents are all concerned about is that at any moment, the kids might be attacked and eaten by the Chicken Nugget Man. Even the President issues warnings about him. The Chicken Nugget Man turns out to be, as Chris discovers, a harmless and tiny person shaped like a chicken nugget. The Chicken Nugget Man makes a deal with Chris to help him learn if Chris will feed him things like stinky socks.

Each short chapter is humorous, which is a good way to attract and keep the attention of students, and the plot is engaging. Students will want to keep on reading or listening to their teacher/parent to learn what will happen next to Chris and his classmates, like Tuna Tommy, a kid who always leaves parts of his lunch in his desk until they start to rot and stink the room up. Chris can't even seem to remember his teacher's name, calling her things like Ms. Bubblegum or Ms. Bobblehead. Kids are sure to get a kick out of the funny bits in the book, as well as learning important concepts they'll be tested over.

A couple of the elements I really liked about the book, other than its use of humor, are the "Knowledge Nuggets," scattered throughout, and the questions at the end of each chapter Ms. Bubblebrain has written on the chalkboard for her students to read and answer, based upon what they've read (or heard, as the case may be). The "Knowledge Nuggets," sometimes present added information, or ask the students to do a simple math problem related to what they've read/heard, or further explains a vocabulary word in a chapter, like the word "scarcity."

The end of chapter questions Ms. Bubblebrain has written on her chalkboard are always headed by the funny underlined words: "For the love of sweaty bacon soda, answer these questions!" She has an interesting way with words, but the questions are a good means for teachers/parents to ask kids questions to see what the students have learned from the chapter. There's an Analysis Question, a Synthesis Question, and an Evaluation Question for the kids to answer.

Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man is a book that, when incorporated with related material, can be a very useful learning tool. It certainly can't be accused of being dull and boring, which many textbooks are in the opinion of students. The only thing I think would make this book any better is the possible addition of an animated DVD to go along with it. Also, though the book can be used relatively easily by teachers from states other than North Carolina, I think it might be a good idea to eventually publish versions of it for every state. Then, this valuable educational resource could reach an even wider audience. I highly recommend it and believe it will be a great success in the classroom to help students prepare for the EOG.

--Douglas R. Cobb--

This book is an absolute gem; I am going to give it for gifts for all the b-day parties this year. My second graders (twins) love to read and insisted on having their own copies of the Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man. They wouldn't put it down and, while reading, would were laughing out loud saying "did you get to this part? did you get to that part?" I had to beg them to turn off their lights at night before bed and had to assure them that they could wake up extra early the next morning to read this book. And you just have to feel great about the content of Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man. Every aspect of the book is tied to the curriculum and gets the kids thinking. So you have an academic book yet the kids have no idea that key curricular concepts were being conveyed throughout. We can't wait for the next installment!!

My son says: This is a great book and a wacky adventure of a boy who sees the Chicken Nugget Man at school. It was great to read because it was funny. I decided to write about this book for school because it was so good. There are so many cool parts. I love how the number of chapter are in base 10 boxes.

My daughter says: This book is so gross, but funny. I loved what the teacher says so she could get the students to pay attention. The book has silly illustrations and characters, and the story is hilarious.

"Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man" is an entertaining story about a boy and his life at school...and the dangers of man-eating chicken nuggets.

Kids may not even realize they are learning when reading this book because it is the furthest thing away from a text-book, but I believe it makes more of an 'impact' on young minds and they can relate to the characters in the story.

As a future school counselor, I plan on using this book to teach students empathy and the variety of consequences that can result from their actions (both good and bad).

In the case of anyone else...parent, teacher or etc...this book is really educational and will motivate any child to learn something through the powerful tool of laughter.

This book should be kept handy at all times (:

We have used the Chicken Nugget Man for two years now with our third graders. The students absolutely love it... they moan and groan when we have to stop and come in the door each morning begging to start reading again. The teachers love it too... there are applicable End of Grade practice discussions throughout (that align perfectly with reading comprehension skills that are essential to good readers), and we use it as our primary source for reading test preparation. The best part, though, is that the students don't even realize they are "reviewing!" I recommend this book to any classroom.

My 8 year old son could not stop reading this book. Here are some comments from him, "Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man is amazing! The characters are extremely weird and funny. There is one kid who sticks things up his nose so he can see how they smell. Another kid keeps all his food in his desk so he forgets about it and he always has moldy food in his desk. My favorite character is the teacher, Ms. Bubblebrain. The main character, Chris can never get her name right. When she is mad, she yells the names of extremely disgusting food. I think it's hilarious. There is one last character that is mainly important in the very end. He plays a big role and it is very surprising.

The story is very funny and odd. It is amazing how well the characters fit into the plot. The story has many twists and turns. Some of them are more like ditches. But don't let the ditches discourage you from reading this book, because it all works out in the end.

I know I am learning a lot but I can't even tell because it is incorporated into the story so well. There are a lot of little lessons that they are teaching you. It reminds me of what my teacher does when she reads us a book out loud. For example, they keep telling you to re-read if you forget something from earlier in the book. My teacher tells my class to do that as well. The suggestions in the book are really cool and helpful. Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man is a truly amazing book."

I used to teach third graders and know that you rarely get a book that is both interesting/age appropriate AND a great learning resource. My nephew noticed this disparity in most children's lit as well, and before this book it was always a challenge to get him to read. I bought this for him and the day he got it he finished it... TWICE! It has quickly become his favorite book. I ask him comprehension questions about the characters, his favorite parts, etc and he actually jumps around the room with excitement while telling me. For a kid that was reluctant to even glance at a book (as well as an aunt that was worried she might have a non-reader on her hands), _Attack of the Chicken Nugget Man_ is the perfect answer!

A teacher friend recently turned me on to this book, which cleverly teaches kids
without making them feel the pressure that usually accompanies acquiring and retaining new knowledge.
I had my niece read the book. She not only thoroughly enjoyed the storied, she had a very high
retention rate for the lessons imparted within. Highly recommended.

This is such a surprising book. I got a copy for my kids (ages 6 & 7) not as much for the educational value, but the entertainment value. The title drew their attention (what kid doesn't love chicken nuggets?), and it has good illustrations that draws them into the pages. I thought it would be a little advanced for the 6 year-old (and it probably is), but I thought that having it laying around would have him looking at it and trying to figure some of it out.

Short story now is that my two kids are fighting over who gets the book, and how long the other one has had it. They've each made their own bookmarks and are sharing the book (sharing might be stretching the truth a bit - I'm a referee). It's great to have a book like this around. Very happy with it.