Review of The Hoboken Chicken Emergency

Author: Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Illustrator: Tony Auth
Publisher: Aladdin
Pages: 112
Reading Level: Ages 9 to 12

Description from GoodReads:
Arthur is sent to find a Thanksgiving turkey, but returns with a 266-pound chicken with a mind of its own in a fresh new look at everyone's favorite feathered tale. B&W illustrations throughout.

Part of my reading goals this summer is to catch up on reading a number of middle grade books on my "To Be Read" list. So far I have read about six Middle Grade books and have really enjoyed nearly every one of them. Here is one of the six that just kept me laughing...

Daniel Pinwater's The Hoboken Chicken Emergency was recommended to me a few months ago. I'm not certain but I think it might have been originally released in 1977. However, it is one of those stories that continues to work even years later. To elaborate on the GoodReads description the story is basically a tale of friendship between a boy named Arthur and a 266 lb. 6 foot tall chicken named Henrietta. Shortly after Arthur brings Henrietta home, his father tells him to take her back to her original owner. It seems that in the short time that the two were together they bonded and now Henrietta wants to find Arthur. In Henrietta's attempt to find Arthur, she proceeds to scare the residents of Hoboken and cause utter chaos. Will Arthur find Henrietta in time?

This book is funny. You can't help laughing at Arthur's attempts to train Henrietta or how everyone mistakes Henrietta for everything from a polar bear to some kind of alien life-form. The mayor and city councils' attempt to capture Henrietta is just plain comical. However, I truly admire any writer who can write humor for elementary age students. You have to have just the right combination of making it seem real and funny without going too far over the edge. Pinkwater does a great job with the humor in this story. It is funny, touching, and just an enjoyable little book.

If you are looking for a fun read for girls or boys (though boys might appreciate it more) this summer, I would add this to your list. The reading level recommendation states 9 to 12 year olds but it can easily be read by 7 & 8 year olds. The humor and easy writing style will appeal to reluctant readers as well.

Have a great summer and don't forget to grab a book and read,
-Aly

Picture Book: Robot Zot

Author: Jon Scieszka
Illustrator: David Shannon
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (2009)
Pages: 40
Ages: 4 to 8 year olds

What do you get when you put Jon Scieszka and David Shannon together to do a picture book? One great picture book filled with humor, great art work, robots, heroes, blowing things up and of course a little love.

The reader is introduced to Robot Zot as he directs his space ship towards planet Earth. With a battle cry of “Robot Zot – never fall. Robot Zot – conquer all”, Robot Zot emerges from his ship in a suburban backyard. As our main character prepares for battle against kitchen and household appliances, readers realize that our space invader is no taller than 3 inches high. After destroying most of the kitchen appliances, Robot Zot discovers “the most amazing earth person…ever” known as the “Queen of all Earth” (a toy cell phone). For the first time, Robot Zot has a purpose to fight for. He must rescue his Queen whom he has fallen in love with.

Scieszka’s humorous text coupled with Shannon’s bold, bright illustrations makes this a fun book to read aloud to children. Young children will enjoy the repetitive phrases and robotic style of wording. They will also laugh at the antics of Robot Zot as he battles the Television and comes face to face with “Earth’s most fearsome Commander General”.

Each year for our school’s Read Across America Day (in celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and reading to children), I search for one book that I know I will be able to read to preschoolers and sixth graders alike. Robot Zot won my heart and earned the distinction of being read in nearly every class at my school. Children and adults laughed, giggled, and chanted back the Robot Zot’s battle cry confirming for me that I had made the right choice.

If you are looking for a fun story to read to your child or in a classroom, then I highly recommend Scieszka’s and Shannon’s Robot Zot.

Share a book with a child,
-Aly