What happens at Nuthatcher Farm when the chickens get tired of the same old chicken feed? The rooster hatches a plan! With a pinch of genius, a dash of resourcefulness, and a little pilfering from the farmer's garden, the chickens whip up a scrumptious snack of chips and salsa. When the rest of the barnyard gets a whiff of the spicy smells and want to join in, it can mean only one thing . . . FIESTA! But when the big day arrives, all their spicy southwestern supplies are gone! Could Mr. and Mrs. Nuthatcher have caught on to the flavor craze?
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2–A rollicking story about a rooster that is a little smarter than the average barnyard animal. Farmer Nuthatcher's chickens are tired of their regular feed, and it just so happens that the rooster has been watching cooking shows over the farmer's wife's shoulder. He has some ideas, beginning with chips and salsa. Soon the ducks are inspired and give up fish for guacamole, and the pigs go for beans and chiles. With all of this southwestern cuisine, it's time for a fiesta. It turns out, though, that Mrs. Nuthatcher is making tamales, and all of the ingredients the animals need are gone, so it's time for a new cuisine–from a French cookbook. This story is a fun read, with a refrain and a smooth pattern. Bogan's humorous illustrations keep the action moving, and the pages are filled with saturated color and energy. A definite purchase for any library.–Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Reynolds punctuates his wry, snappy text with the kind of knowing, running jokes that kids love, while Bogan's fiesta-bright comic watercolors evoke the spirit of vintage Warner Bros. animation (astute readers will also note that the barnyard mice seem to be the suppliers of the harder-to-find ingredients)." ---Publishers Weekly
"Bogan's big cartoon scenes capture the increasing excitement, as well as the general bliss brought on by plenty of pre-fiesta snacking." --Kirkus Reviews
"This story is a fun read, with a refrain and a smooth pattern. Bogan's humorous illustrations keep the action moving, and the pages are filled with saturated color and energy. A definite purchase for any library." --School Library Journal
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Tami Coyne
Format:Hardcover
My seven year old LOVES this book! The story is clever, unique and FUNNY! The illustrations are wonderful and hilarious. And there are even recipes included, which is great for any enterprising child who wants to whip up some Mexican cuisine. We highly recommend this book!
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A pig can eat only so much slop. Fowl may need to part from their feed. Even a duck might tire of fish.
This is the premise of "Chicks and Salsa," a celebration of culinary diversity in general, salsa in particular. The "salsafication" of the farm animals is the brainchild of a rebellious rooster, although there's a rat (literal, not figurative) who--behind the scenes--supplies the ingredients. The rooster is the face of the salsa revolution, but the rat, lurking stealthily on most pages, is the muscle.
Like a great chef or musician, Aaron Reynolds riffs on salsa within a structured format. AS the zest for salsa spreads from one species to another, the recipes change. The rooster and chickens pick farm fresh (naturally) onions and tomatoes, the ducks dine on cilantro and garlic, and the pigs go for beans and chopped chilis. Paulette Bogan gives these mischievous animals distinctive personalities and emotion. She draws a bored chicken like no one else. A pig turns fier red after eating chilis, while another pig proudly juggles them. Bogan's seems to thrive on low-light scenes; the animals become luminescent, and their glow warms the barn and surrounding farmland. Her shadows and shadings use unusual color combinations, and the fiesta preparations are vivid and rich.
Sadly, the fiesta never takes place, as the humans, who finally wake up and smell the animals' spices, seize all the ingredients for a tamale entree entry at the state fair. The conclusion is a little bit abrupt, but it's clever: The rooster sneaks into the kitchen, and with the rat's help shifts from one cuisine to another, becoming a master at crepes. The fiesta turns into something of a salon, and--zut alors--the animals done "French" clothes, a bit of attitude, and share the hors d'ouevres. "Chicks and Salsa" is delightfully entertaining, with mugging animals and other silly stuff alternating with keenly observed humor. The very talented Bogan gives the reader a visual feast on every page; the animals look as welcoming as teddy bears. 34 pages long, with a book cover that can be made into a poster, and three recipes to try: "Hog Wild Nachos," "Quackamole," and "Rooster's Toasted Salsa."
This is the premise of "Chicks and Salsa," a celebration of culinary diversity in general, salsa in particular. The "salsafication" of the farm animals is the brainchild of a rebellious rooster, although there's a rat (literal, not figurative) who--behind the scenes--supplies the ingredients. The rooster is the face of the salsa revolution, but the rat, lurking stealthily on most pages, is the muscle.
Like a great chef or musician, Aaron Reynolds riffs on salsa within a structured format. AS the zest for salsa spreads from one species to another, the recipes change. The rooster and chickens pick farm fresh (naturally) onions and tomatoes, the ducks dine on cilantro and garlic, and the pigs go for beans and chopped chilis. Paulette Bogan gives these mischievous animals distinctive personalities and emotion. She draws a bored chicken like no one else. A pig turns fier red after eating chilis, while another pig proudly juggles them. Bogan's seems to thrive on low-light scenes; the animals become luminescent, and their glow warms the barn and surrounding farmland. Her shadows and shadings use unusual color combinations, and the fiesta preparations are vivid and rich.
Sadly, the fiesta never takes place, as the humans, who finally wake up and smell the animals' spices, seize all the ingredients for a tamale entree entry at the state fair. The conclusion is a little bit abrupt, but it's clever: The rooster sneaks into the kitchen, and with the rat's help shifts from one cuisine to another, becoming a master at crepes. The fiesta turns into something of a salon, and--zut alors--the animals done "French" clothes, a bit of attitude, and share the hors d'ouevres. "Chicks and Salsa" is delightfully entertaining, with mugging animals and other silly stuff alternating with keenly observed humor. The very talented Bogan gives the reader a visual feast on every page; the animals look as welcoming as teddy bears. 34 pages long, with a book cover that can be made into a poster, and three recipes to try: "Hog Wild Nachos," "Quackamole," and "Rooster's Toasted Salsa."
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By P. Dussin
Format:Hardcover
My two-year-old loves this book. I like reading it to him. The author has a great ear for alliteration and near alliteration, and there are so many sentences in the book that are just fun to say!
The story is solidly entertaining, and the illustrations, as others have pointed out, have the prerequisite little details (spiders, butterflies, mice, little birds) that little kids love to find.
My only problem is with the end, and it's only as an adult reading the story, and it's really minor, but: I can't stand it that the Rooster prepares a dish with *eggs* at the end!
The story is solidly entertaining, and the illustrations, as others have pointed out, have the prerequisite little details (spiders, butterflies, mice, little birds) that little kids love to find.
My only problem is with the end, and it's only as an adult reading the story, and it's really minor, but: I can't stand it that the Rooster prepares a dish with *eggs* at the end!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chicks and Salsa
Chicks and Salsa has become one of those delightful tales I, as a Grandmother,love to read again and again and again to my grandchildren!! Mum Jill
Published 8 months ago by Jill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book
This is a cute and fun book, one our children frequently request. An added bonus are the recipes at the end. Definitely Recommend
Published 16 months ago by Eric
4.0 out of 5 stars
Chicks and Salsa
Very funny little book and the addition of a recipe makes it something special. The illustrations are colorful and enhance the story line perfectly.
Published 18 months ago by grandma g
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chicks who love Salsa
My daughter is 6 years old, and this is one of her favorite books. Some of the key ingredients of the book are:
- chickens who are very tired of eating the same feed every... Read more
- chickens who are very tired of eating the same feed every... Read more
Published on May 14, 2011 by john bach
5.0 out of 5 stars
So cute!
I borrowed this book from the library and I think I'm going to have to buy it! I love the story, the garden and the recipes. Read more
Published on April 20, 2011 by Shannon Dunn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny book!
Chicks and Salsa is funny. It is funny because the chick is wearing a big hat. I like it because the rooster was doing a pose that was funny. Read more
Published on March 18, 2011 by Centennial Elementary
5.0 out of 5 stars
Festive Chicks
Who doesn't love chicks who are bored and want a little excitement in the barnyard? This book shows the playful side of animals who work together to create a fiesta. Read more
Published on March 16, 2011 by M. Conrad
5.0 out of 5 stars
chicks and salsa!!!
this is a fun book to read! the author has good pacing and employs humor, wit, whimsy, rhymes, synonyms, repetition and culture to tell this rollicking story. Read more
Published on February 14, 2011 by A. Mak
5.0 out of 5 stars
chicks and salsa a Great read aloud!
I read Chicks and salsa to my class on cinco de mayo and they love it! The recipes are also fun and easy to make in class. A+
Published on May 15, 2010 by L. Kuehnle
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great fun for kids and adults!
Using 'real' words (not kiddie simple) and pages loaded with fun details, this book is fantastic! It's fun to read, with places for everyone to shout out, and the pictures are so... Read more
Published on February 7, 2010 by MontanaNic
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