Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise (Interrupting Chicken)

by David Ezra Stein (Author) David Ezra Stein (Illustrator)

Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise (Interrupting Chicken)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Surprise! The little red chicken is back -- and as endearingly silly as ever -- in David Ezra Stein's follow-up to the Caldecott Honor-winning Interrupting Chicken.

It's homework time for the little red chicken, who has just learned about something every good story should have: an elephant of surprise. Or could it be an element of surprise (as her amused papa explains)? As they dive in to story after story, looking for the part that makes a reader say "Whoa! I didn't know that was going to happen," Papa is sure he can convince Chicken he's right. After all, there are definitely no elephants in "The Ugly Duckling," "Rapunzel," or "The Little Mermaid" -- or are there?

Elephant or element, something unexpected awaits Papa in every story, but a surprise may be in store for the little red chicken as well. Full of the same boisterous charm that made Interrupting Chicken so beloved by readers, this gleeful follow-up is sure to delight fans of stories, surprises, and elephants alike.

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Booklist

Starred Review
Stein contrasts the richly colored, comfortable scenes at home with the pale, restrained traditional storybook illustrations, which are in turn jolted by the addition of the colorful, comical Elephant of Surprise and Chicken herself. Following the same basic structure as the original story, this sequel is fresh, funny, and satisfying in its own way. A treat for Interrupting Chicken fans.

Kirkus Reviews

Little Chicken is back, and her metafictive editorial impulses are as strong as ever...fans of the two loving characters will be delighted to see them again. Unsurprisingly good.

Horn Book Magazine

Stein's mixed-media illustrations allow the narrative styles to bounce back and forth between silly and serious, showing both wacky and cozy moments and honoring the warm, loving relationship between Chicken and her caregiver. Like its Caldecott Honor-winning predecessor Interrupting Chicken, this story centers on one extended gag; but many will enjoy giggling at it again and again, likely with a grownup of their own.

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

In the eponymous Chicken's post-Caldecott Honor book, she learns something new in school: "Every story has an elephant of surprise." Papa--whose bright red crest and spade-shaped feet match Chicken's--gently explains that it's element, not elephant. To demonstrate, Papa reads "The Ugly Duckling." The storybook open on Papa's lap, Stein's art transforms from the smudgy, warm tones of the cozy reading nook to a pastoral storybook scene rendered in pen and ink. As the Ugly Duckling is about to glimpse his reflection, a page turn introduces a blue elephant wearing wings: "Surprise! I'm an elephant!" The elephant returns in readings of "Rapunzel" (with thick braids) and "The Little Mermaid" (sporting a bikini). A final story--written by Papa and illustrated by Chicken--demonstrates that, despite Papa's best efforts, the "elephant of surprise" is here to stay. Stein masterfully builds suspense with each imbedded story, for a gag that only gets more fun with each reveal. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

PreS-Gr 2—The precocious Chicken and her papa are back in this sequel to Interrupting Chicken. Chicken has learned at school about the element of surprise in storytelling. She interprets this as the elephant of surprise. When Papa reads classic tales aloud to Chicken, she interrupts to point out the "whoa!" moment. The "whoa!" moment always includes an elephant interjected into the story. Papa decides to tell his own story, without elephants. Despite his efforts, an elephant ends up in his story, too. A mixture of watercolor, crayon, marker, pen, white ink and tea magically come together to create delightfully uncommon illustrations. Vibrant and warm colors bring Chicken and Papa to life. Spreads from the storybooks Papa reads aloud, including text and classic illustrations, immerse readers in the tale. The story page illustrations also include Chicken's artistic additions, drawn onto the page, of an adorable blue elephant complete with chat bubbles. When Papa makes up his own story, Chicken illustrates it for him. These illustrations again depict the story pages with Chicken's childlike drawings in crayon. The prose matches the vibrancy of the illustrations with humorous dialogue between Chicken and her patient Papa. VERDICT Multiple award-winning author and illustrator Stein has created a noteworthy title for library shelves in addition to his already beloved collection of picture books. A terrific choice for one-on-one and small group sharing.—Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Stein's art is rich, textured and varied. Like 'King Alice, ' this book features stories within stores. All with elephants. Lots and lots of elephants, each of them, as advertised, surprising.
—The New York Times Book Review 

The father's amused exasperation [in Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise], the child's delight, the wordplay and the exuberant artwork all combine to make this picture book at once a celebration of love and language and an entertainment that will stand up to many, many bedtime readings. Some jokes never get old.
—The Wall Street Journal
David Ezra Stein
David Ezra Stein is an author-illustrator whose previous books include Leaves, winner of an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. He lives in Kew Gardens, New York.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780763688424
Lexile Measure
540
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
September 20, 2018
Series
Interrupting Chicken
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV047000 - Juvenile Fiction | Books & Libraries
JUV012030 - Juvenile Fiction | Fairy Tales & Folklore | General
Library of Congress categories
-

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