REVIEW: Chicken Butt!

Perl, E.  (2009).  Chicken Butt!  New York:  Abrams Books for Young Readers.

9780810983250

I picked up this book because it reminded me of Chicken Cheeks, which I love much more than any grown woman should.  While both books take advantage of the fact that thousands upon thousands of early elementary students will find the idea of chicken backsides entertaining, Chicken Butt! makes use of chicken anatomy for a different effect.

PLOT SUMMARY:  A young boy asks his father questions, like "who?" "what?" and "when?" and all of the answers are parts of a chicken.  While the boy (like many young readers) is very amused by this, the father (also similar to real adults) is not so amused.

Chicken Butt! does capture a true period of childhood when young students will repeat one joke over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over AGAIN!

When I was little, I personally was a fan of "What's worse than biting into an apple and seeing a worm?  Seeing half a worm!!!!!!!!!"  In fact, I'm still entertained by this joke.  I think I've told it to my Ph.D advisor at least ten time just this quarter.  She, in similar fashion to my dad, simply responds, "Yes, Michele.  That's nice." with glazed eyes.

Time to refocus!  Where were we?  Oh yes, discussing Chicken Butt!

The illustrations do feature a chicken, who is often is featured dominantly on the page proudly showing off whatever aspect of its body that is being mentioned.  This, of course, adds to the humorous effect of the story.

There is one book that is particularly dialogue heavy.  To avoid it being confusing, a teacher should switch off reading it aloud with a young reader.


ACTIVITIES:

Since the boy asks all the standard questions of "who," "what," "where," "why," "when" and "how" a teacher can incorporate Chicken Butt! into a lesson on the parts of a story or newspaper article as a humorous break.

Chicken Butt! incorporates a strong sense of rhythm, which lends itself to being a read aloud or a call and response book.


QUOTES OF NOTE:

"You know what?"
"What?"
"CHICKEN BUTT!"

"You know where?"
"Where?"
"CHICKEN UNDERWEAR!"

"Enough!  NO MORE!"


TASTY RATE:  !!!