Customer Reviews

The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Called "Baby" and "Girl" by Big Mama, the first-person narrator does three things. every morning after she has brushed her teeth whiter than a biscuit. She eats breakfast, tells Big Mama stories, and chases chickens. She has given herself the fine, richly deserved title of, "The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County." Her favorite prey is Miss Hen, who completely and competently eludes her.


In this delightfully humorous story of a small country girl's favorite pastime, young readers, who will likely never meet a free-ranging chicken, will relish the perfect ending. The vernacular of our queen never hits a false note. The illustrations of the happy, self-satisfied child make the viewer smile just to look at them. Collage and watercolor, and chickens flap across pages. The picture of girl and hen studying each other with one eye closed is truly classic. An absolute gem of a book.

Harrington, Janice N. The Chicken Chasing Queen of Lamar County

I absolutely love this book. It is full of delicious language, "The chickens watch me, and I watch them. I think all kinds of chicken thoughts so they will not know I am up to something... Worms, slurms, swishy-mishy, ickly-tickly worms!" The exuberant text begs to be read-aloud and the illustrations are outstanding.
Right from the beginning, a young African American girl announces, "I'm the chicken-chasing Queen of Lamar County." She tells her own story in folksy language, "I always do three things, eat breakfast, tell stories to Big Mama, and--when Big Mama isn't looking--chase chickens!" She knows that she is breaking her Grandmother's admonition not to chase the chickens because they might stop laying eggs but just cannot "help herself". One double spread shows the girl's shinning eyes and incredible smile as she is reaching out to catch a chicken. Big Mama's wise sayings are fluidly incorporated into the story, "Big Mama says you can do anything you put your mind to -if you want it bad enough". Similes, like "feathers are shiny as a rained-on roof"," Plump (Miss Hen) as a Sunday purse" and "as fast as a mosquito buzzing and quick as a fleabite."
The artist paints in warm colors and utilizes collage to capture the facial expressions, posture and lively action splendidly. The presentation is eye catching: One double spread has the girl closing one eye and peeking at Miss Hen; around her swirls things she is thinking about: eggs, corn bread and a slimy worm, so the chickens can not figure out her real intention is to chase them. A cautious Miss Hen closes one eye and cocks her head so she can peer back at the girl. In another double spread, the little girl jumps and spreads her arms and legs wide, and Miss Hen mimics her by spreading her wings. In another double spread, the perspective is from above so everything going on in the barnyard is visible. Each electric page has full color backgrounds without any white space. Do not miss this gem!

I was honored to serve on the Cybils Awards judging committee for Fiction Picture Books. It was truly an honor to give this book our top prize. The prose is both musical and evocative, as told in the first person voice of the little girl, chicken chasing queen herself.

And the art is a perfect match for the exuberance of the poetic text.

Here is our blurb for the awards:

"Mama says "NO," but this farm girl seems determined to keep right on chasing chickens, especially poor Miss Hen, the one chicken that always gets away. This lively story is told in the first-person voice of our full-of-the-devil young lady, using language that sings with the vernacular and cadence of true country storytelling. The illustrations are a perfect match in spirit, and they move the tale along with equal verve, using the rich texture of collage, skilled brush strokes, celebratory colors and charming whimsy. Best of all, we learn that even the wildest hearts are capable of warmth and growth. "

This dynamic duo of creativity -- Shelly Jackson and Janice Harrington -- have created a stunning, fun, funny, and touching story. It's a joy to read, and the pictures are amazing. Now, I feel I should say that this is the second book this week that I've reviewed that is about chickens. The other is Susan's Squire's _Poultry Science, Chicken Culture_. Read both books and you'll have chickens down: their science, and all the fun poetic life they can bring to life. What a great book this is.

This book is so much fun!! Ms. Harrington is quick with her wit - and humor to match. As a writer of children's literature, this story inspires me.

I love this book.

I love the metaphorical language. I love the active, semi-collage artwork. I love the onomatopoeia. Truthfully, I think any library would be improved by having this book in their collection.

Stunning! Lyrically, visually, culturally rich. So much fun to read aloud and with amazing collage-like images that are compelling for all ages - my 16 month old and i were spellbound. I hope that the author and illustrator team up again. We bought it as a gift for a 2 year old who is loving it and now must add it to our library. (i'm sure it is intended for an older audience but i think it is one of those classics that transcends age) The main character is mischievous and strong-willed but learns a valuable lesson in the end in a way that is believable and not at all preachy. Fun fun fun!

I purchased this book for my grandchildren, they laughed from cover to cover. They were also happy to read a book with faces that look like thiers in it. The story was well written and the illustrations are great as well.

My little boy is almost five now and we just started reading this book and it's quickly become his favorite! He's always liked farm stories so maybe that's why this story appeals to him, but it appeals to me because it's so much fun to read - it's beautifully written.

Super storyline. You will get to use all your fun voices, including the chicken sounds.