Customer Reviews

Chicken And Cat Clean Up

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

 

 

Sara Varon, Chicken and Cat Clean Up (Scholastic, 2009)

Every time I bring this book to mind again (I read it a week and a half ago and have been letting it rattle around in my head ever since), I can't get past comparing it to the movie Sunshine Cleaning, which couches so many of the same themes in a decidedly more adult (and more destructive) milieu. Because of this, you probably already have a handle on the (wordless) story: chicken and cat go into the cleaning business together, but cat is clumsy and keeps messing things up, so their employer sends him outside (so as not to cause any more damage), and he ends up finding something he's good at doing while pondering his future in the cleaning business. Very nicely done, very cute, and I wish I'd jotted down on the spreadsheet that it was a sequel so I could've read the first book first. No matter, though; because it's wordless, could be a hit with just about any age, from pre-readers who will be enchanted by Varon's color schemes to those who find themselves too old for kids' books but are just starting to discover graphic novels and manga. *** 1/2

Chicken operates a housekeeping business in Brooklyn, NY. Demand for his service is strong, so he asks his good friend Cat to help. Unfortunately, Cat errs on the lazy and clumsy side, so mistakes happen. Is this partnership doomed to fail, or does Cat have some redeeming qualities that could contribute to the enterprise? With its wordless format and expressive illustrations, this dynamic book serves as a useful vehicle for enticing children to create their own story and talk about what it takes to run a successful business.

Sara Varon's CHICKEN AND CAT CLEAN UP tells of two best friends. When Chicken opens his own housekeeping business, Cat comes to mind as the perfect partner - but he's clumsy and is making lots of mistakes. How can Chicken and Cat be in business and still be friends? A fun story of cooperation and shared goals evolves.