Let's Get Cracking! (Kung Pow Chicken #1)

by Cyndi Marko (Author)

Let's Get Cracking! (Kung Pow Chicken #1)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Kung Pow Chicken is the superhero everyone has been waiting for!

This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

In this exciting full-color series, Gordon Blue transforms into Kung Pow Chicken, an avian superhero who fights crime in the city of Fowladelphia. The first book in the series kicks off when Gordon's birdy senses lead him to a festival. Suddenly, POOF! Feathers fill the air and shivering naked chickens are everywhere. Why have all these chickens lost their feathers? Forced to wear wooly sweaters, the city itches for a hero. Kung Pow Chicken hops into his Beakmobile to save the day!

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Kirkus

Starred Review
Marko's debut is a perfectly puntastic page-turner. Hybrids of comics and traditional pictures, the goofy all-color illustrations propel the fast-moving, high-interest story. 'Ham and eggs!' --you don't want to miss this!

Publishers Weekly

Newcomer Marko dives headlong into superhero comedy in this hilarious kickoff to the Kung Pow Chicken series (part of the publisher's Branches line), named for the alter ego of second-grader Gordon Blue, a rotund chicken. Freewheeling full-page illustrations and sequential panels push the book into graphic novel territory and assume much of the storytelling duty. After Gordon and his younger brother, Benedict, accidentally fall into a vat of toxic sludge at their scientist uncle's lab ("Maybe we won't tell your mom about this..." quips Uncle Quack), superpowers manifest in both birds. Their "birdy senses" tingle when danger is near, and it certainly appears to be present at the Fowl Fall Festival when the chickens in attendance suddenly (and explosively) begin to lose their feathers. Puns, one-liners, and goofy superpowered action are in abundant supply over the story's eight chapters--along with plenty of "kapows," "zoings," and villainous laughter--as Kung Pow Chicken and his sidekick Egg Drop investigate. Just the thing for beginning readers eying the Captain Underpants shelf. Ages 5-7. Agent: Adriann Ranta, Wolf Literary Services. (Jan.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3--Gordon Blue and his younger egg brother, Benedict, gain superpowers after taking an accidental dive into giant vat of toxic sludge while visiting Uncle Quack's laboratory. Gordon, aka Kung Pow Chicken, and Benedict get an opportunity to put their powers to the test. A crowd of chickens at the Fowl Fall Festival is suddenly featherless, and glowing cookies found near the scene are suspected to be linked to the crime. Granny Goosebumps, selling sweaters to the featherless victims, is scheming for a way to raise enough money to move to Florida, but Kung Pow Chicken and his faithful sidekick, Egg Drop, step in to save the day. The story is heavily illustrated and the cartoon style pairs nicely with the story's overall feel. Dialogue appears in speech bubbles, and the frequent poultry plays on words are sure to elicit giggles from young readers. This first offering in a series will have broad appeal among independent readers who have outgrown easy readers but are not yet ready for books relying more on text than illustration.--Matthew C. Winner, Ducketts Lane Elementary School, Elkridge, MD

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

ALA/Booklist

Step aside, Captain Underpants! There is a new hero in town--this time, with feathers.... Fresh, funny, and packed with full-color illustrations, this new transitional series will be an instant hit with readers looking for silly fun and a touch of mystery.

Review quotes

Praise for Bok! Bok! Boom!

An Amazon Big Spring Book, 2014




It was amazing.

I thought it was a very good book I am glad I read it if you like humor this is your book.

Cyndi Marko
Cyndi Marko is the award-winning author-illustrator of the Kung Pow Chicken series and This Little Piggy: An Owner's Manual. Born in Smithers, BC, Canada, Cyndi spent most of her time as a kid drawing pictures, reading books, and making up stories. Not much has changed, except Cyndi's mom makes her buy her own crayons now (well, most of the time, anyway. Thanks, Mom!). Cyndi currently lives in British Columbia, Canada.

Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780545610612
Lexile Measure
550
Guided Reading Level
M
Publisher
Scholastic Inc.
Publication date
January 07, 2014
Series
Kung Pow Chicken
BISAC categories
JUV002040 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Birds
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002090 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Farm Animals
JUV001000 - Juvenile Fiction | Action & Adventure
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
Library of Congress categories
Humorous stories
Chickens
Superheroes
Cookies
Maryland Blue Crab Young Reader Award
Honor Book 2015 - 2015

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