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32 pp.
| Holiday
| May, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-3201-1$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Herm Auch
&
Mary Jane Auch.
Henrietta the chicken pretends to be human in order to find a publisher for her picture book, Chickergarten. Though it gets rave reviews (a star in "The Corn Book"!), she attends a book festival as herself and causes quite a ruckus. The (rather jarring) digital illustrations comically depict Henrietta's antics; goofy chicken--and adult-aimed publishing-insider--jokes are sprinkled throughout the text.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| March, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-2087-2$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Herm Auch
&
Mary Jane Auch.
Henrietta, Souperchicken's punning hen star, finds writing so "eggshilarating" that she vows to get a book published. Following an amusingly daffy all-chicken brainstorming session, the story takes an adult-geared detour, parodying the cruelties of the publishing world (the "Corn" Book Magazine is not spared), before coming back around. The illustrations are a discombobulating marriage of oil paintings and digital technology.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| September, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8234-1990-6$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Mary Jane Auch
&
Herm Auch.
After beauty shop proprietor Beauty, a chicken, learns that customer Lance, a turkey, has been marked for a farmer's Thanksgiving dinner, she decides to use her skills as a beautician to disguise him. The pun-filled text ("eggsclusive"; "Wattle I do?") and over-the-top art--hand-sewn and sculpted creations festooned with feathers--are a bit too eggstreme and would have benefited from a little restraint.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| April, 2005
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1804-9$16.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Mary Jane Auch
&
Herm Auch.
In this clever parody of "Cinderella," the hen Chickerella and her Fairy Goosemother love fashion design, while the prince is really into "eggscessories." Their "happily ever after" includes not marriage, but a business partnership and the creation of a "fashion line called Chickerella." For the funny, original illustrations, the Auchs made and photographed their own feathered models, complete with elaborate costumes.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| September, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1756-5$$16.95
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
Mary Jane Auch
&
Herm Auch.
Rowdy roosters Rudy and Ralph cause a lot of barnyard racket, disturbing Clarissa the cow and Sophie the pig. As all the animals prepare for a Halloween parade, a ghostly figure appears in the barn, and the two noisy roosters fear that they've awoken the fabled "poultrygeist." The humorous story is accompanied by unpretentious, colorful art depicting the animals decked out in their Halloween garb.
73 pp.
| Holiday
| May, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1775-1$$15.95
(4)
1-3
Illustrated by
Herm Auch
&
Herm Auch.
A talking dog named Arful must help watch over the beloved (and overrated) class pet--an obnoxious chicken--that his young owner has brought home during Christmas vacation. But the chicken has ideas of her own. Though the plot is slim and the human characters are flat, Arful is sympathetic, adding his humorous observations to this quick read. The story is illustrated with simple black-and-white spot art.
32 pp.
| Holiday
| April, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1704-2$$16.95
(4)
K-3
Illustrated by
Mary Jane Auch
&
Herm Auch.
Henrietta's love of reading comes in handy when the older chickens are shipped out to go on "vacation"--in a truck labeled "Souper Soup Co." A full-fledged caper ensues as Henrietta helps rescue her friends and find them a safe haven at a vegetarian farmer's house. While somewhat long-winded and heavy-handed, the story and its colorful mixed-media artwork are amusing.
87 pp.
| Holiday
| May, 2001
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1576-7$$15.95
(4)
1-3
Illustrated by
Herm Auch.
This is a funny follow-up to I Was a Third Grade Science Project. Because an experiment in the first book goes wrong, Arful Lewis, a dog, can talk. In alternating chapters headed by thumbnail drawings of the narrators, Arful and human third-grader Josh tell their versions of preparations for the school talent show. The illustrations have a sketchy, amateurish quality, but the text's droll humor moves this chapter book along.
96 pp.
| Holiday
| January, 1998
|
TradeISBN 0-8234-1357-8
(4)
K-3
Pals Brian and Josh have a great idea for their science fair project: hypnotize Brian's dog to make him think he's a cat. Their experiment seems to have a limited effect on the dog, but Josh soon starts exhibiting feline behavior. Although the story is sometimes too obvious, kids will relish the absurd premise and the ensuing high jinks, as well as the snappy, realistic dialogue and surprise ending.