Customer Reviews

Chicken Butt!

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Yikes! It absolutely amazes me how themes develop in kidlit. Right now it's butts, rearends, tushies. The first book I read in this group was Ian Blacks "Chicken Cheeks". The artwork by Kevin Hawkes was very nice.

Then there was "Always Lots of Heinies at the Zoo" and "The Tushy Book". My gang has not read neither of these two, although we've seen them, and I imagine we'll pick them up at the library at some point.

Which is what I suggest you do with "Chicken Butt!" The reason I don't suggest you run out and buy this book -- despite the fact that my 7 year old son thought it was funny -- is that it's a one trick pony. Yes... the artwork is colorful and cute. And Yes... it made my son laugh, and my daughter (9) smile, BUT it's not the sort of book they are going to read and reread over months. A week yes. But it's got no long term staying power.

The dialog between a boy and his dad starts out like this:

You know what?
What?
Chicken Butt!

You know why?
Why?
Chicken thigh.

They then go on to cover 'how' and 'when', etc. And it ends in a fashion reminiscent to the old knock-knock joke that involves a banana and orange.

Talking Points:::
This is a cute book that has kid-friendly art and a laugh or three. It ought to appeal to preschoolers through 8 year olds.

Though the book is nicely put together I can't recommend it as a purchase.

It's a good read-aloud. Either solo or as group.

Accelerated Reading level = generic "3"

Pam T~
mom and reviewer at BooksForKids-reviews

Well, I wasn't even allowed to say the word "butt" when I was growing up, and here it is in a book. Teachers, you know how hard it is to get your students to reread. Well, one of my first graders has read this at least 50 times. He reads it fluently with enormous expression and still laughs when he reads it. It is just plain fun.

Our five year-old couldn't stop laughing. He's decided he will learn to read, just so he can perform this book for anyone who will listen.

So here's the question: How do you feel about a raucous storytime? Are you pro or con? Cause that's what you're going to have if you pull this one out during read-aloud. There are children's books that work well when shared, then you have books like Chicken Butt, that are created for group settings. Say goodbye to the "fouth wall" - readers are invited into the story from page one. While the central joke isn't new, this winning combination of humor and the element of surprise will make for a memorable read aloud.

When the title of a book is chicken butt, you can imagine where things are going. After a lost chicken follows a brown-haired boy home, he decides to spring that age old question, "You know what?", upon his unsuspecting father, who responds with a simple, "What?" The answer ("Chicken butt!") comes when the page is turned, with the chicken providing a visual aid. A series of similar question-and-answer exchanges ensue, with a range of fowl anatomy (thigh, eyebrow, etc.) brought into the mix. The father eventually grows weary of this game and wants to put an end to it. But the boy, using all his powers of persuasion, gets his dad to answer one last question - the answer to which will be a sure-fire crowd pleaser.

If you've read Leslie Helakoski's Big Chickens than you're familiar with Henry Cole. Loose and expressive, Cole's illustrations set the right mood for this sort of story.

Really, this is less of a review than it is a question. Are you ready for the sort of rip-roaring storytime that this book promises? While adults (like the one in the book) may not be thrilled with the premise of Chicken Butt, kids will be unquestionably sold.

I am purchasing this book for my daughter and my niece tonight. My daughter and I got this from the library and she just can't get enough of it! I can't help that it reminds me of my brother playing this same trick on me when we were growing up so I just had to buy a copy for his family as well!!! I am also thinking about pre-ordering the next book.

We checked this book out at the Library so often I finally purchased for my then 3 year old son. My son is now almost 5 and still laughs hysterically when I read the book. My 6 year old daughter enjoys the story and laughs at times but not near as much as my son.

It rules! So great! My nephew and I have a chicken butt thing we do so this is a PERFECT gift!!!!! THANKS! Cant wait to give this to him

A child's enthusiasm and a father's exhaustion blend in a fun read-aloud guide to zany rhymes. Henry Cole provides the winning drawings in this simple story of a child whose whimsical riddles drive his father to distraction - and beyond. Kids will choose the book for its title and enjoy its special brand of humor.

I gave this book to a 6 year-old last week. I believe he is still laughing.

We saw this book in the store and HAD to get it. I was crying I was laughing so hard in the store as we read this book! It's a silly, yet fun book! Kids will love it! And well Adults too!