The Chicken Who Couldn't (Giggle Gang)

by Jan Thomas (Author) Jan Thomas (Illustrator)

Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
Series: Giggle Gang

After falling out of Farmer's truck, Chicken must find his own way home in this goofy, laugh-out-loud story about overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself.

It has not been a good day for Chicken. He went to the fair with Farmer, but didn't win even one ribbon. And on the way home, the road is so bumpy that Farmer's truck knocks Chicken right out! He's been left behind! It's the end for Chicken. Surely, he can't walk all the way home. Or avoid the hungry fox along the way. Or maybe...he can?

This rollicking picture book will have little ones in giggles over Chicken's misadventures and chiming in on the plucky fowl's mantra "I am a strong and powerful and nice-looking chicken!" as he achieves more than he thought possible.

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Publishers Weekly

Having received no ribbons at the fair, Chicken's confidence has already taken a hit when his cage tumbles off the back of the truck carrying him back to the farm. Given heightened anxiety and a self-doubt hair trigger (now uncaged, he plummets to the ground the minute someone says, "I didn't think chickens could fly!"), it's unclear how he'll manage the route home. But with the help of some animals who could easily develop side gigs as personal growth coaches, he develops a new mantra ("I am a STRONG and POWERFUL and NICE LOOKING chicken"--he insists on the "nice looking" part) and intimidates a hungry fox who wants to turn him into Southwest cuisine. Having discovered confidence, Chicken even begins a career as a prize winner. Thomas (My Friends Make Me Happy!), working in bright colors and comics-style panels, never misses a beat, whether it's a sight gag (Chicken's head gets stuck in a mole hole) or her cast's rapport, which should prompt requests for repeat readings. The self-esteem topic may be familiar, but Thomas shows that it can still get excellent comic mileage. Ages 3-5. Agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Thomas' trademark goofy illustrations arranged in comic-style panels hold a great deal of energy, and the Looney Tunes-style humor will get a lot of laughs from young audiences. Like popcorn chicken, this book's got a nugget of protein at its center.—Kirkus Reviews "August 1st, 2020"
Jan Thomas
Jan Thomas is the creator of Rhyming Dust Bunnies; Can You Make a Scary Face★; Here Comes the Big, Mean Dust Bunny!; Is Everyone Ready for Fun★; Even Robots Aren't Perfect; Even Robots Can Be Thankful!; Let's Sing a Lullaby with the Brave Cowboy; and Problem Solved!. She lives in Socorro, New Mexico.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781416996996
Lexile Measure
380
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Beach Lane Books
Publication date
October 06, 2020
Series
Giggle Gang
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002090 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Farm Animals
JUV039140 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance
Library of Congress categories
Humorous stories
Animals
Self-confidence
Picture books
Chickens

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