Book Summary
The Plot
Chickens is the story of Henrietta, a chicken that writes a book that no one
will publish. Using literary elements found in a writing guidebook, Henrietta
develops her story with the help of her friends. Eventually, Henrietta finds a
way to share her story, and finds that one bad review can't stop a good book
from finding an adoring audience.
Reference
Auch, M.
J., & Auch, H. (2009). The plot chickens (1st ed.). New
York, NY: Holiday House.
Impressions:
The Plot Thickens is a
great children's picture book to help students understand the important
elements of a good story. The book's humor seems aimed towards writers and
audiences much older than children but the ending will provide a strong laugh from younger readers.
- Visual
The
illustrators drawing of the characters' eyes gave some heartfelt personality to
Henrietta and the Librarian. The visuals accurately reflected the text on page
and in some cases did an excellent job of developing the story between dialogue in speech bubbles and Henrietta the Chickens
typewritten text. The use of bold words to highlight adjectives and descriptive
language to reinforce the rules of writing.
- Text
The story
does a great job of unfolding the rules of writing without becoming too
technical for early readers. The use of humor is egg-cellent. The story also reflects the tenacity of the main
character in trying to create a book even after rejection and self-doubt.
Professional Review:
K-Gr 2 --Henrietta the chicken, star of Souperchicken (Holiday House, 2003), is an avid library user and decides that because reading is so much fun, "writing books must be eggshilarating." She finds a manual of writing rules and creates her own story-with the unsolicited help of the other fowl. When it is rejected by a publisher, Henrietta decides to self-publish. She takes a copy to her librarian, who tells her to send it to The Corn Book Magazine for review. Henrietta gets another rejection: "odoriferous." Then she wanders into the library at storytime and sees that her book was chosen best of the year by the children. Henrietta is asked to read it aloud. "She read with dramatic expression. Of course, all the children heard was BUK, BUK, BUK...." The illustrations, a combination of oil paints and digital technology, are bold and colorful. The pictures are busy, with Henrietta at her typewriter while her friends cavort around her. There are imagined scenes in cloud shapes, word balloons, and jokes aplenty. A droll chicken with a repeating line adds to the humor. This offering works on two levels. It's a funny picture book that could be used as a manual on writing.
Bates, I. (2009). The Plot Chickens. School Library Journal, 55(3), 105.
Library Uses:
Grades
3-6: The Plot Thickens should be used as a resource when beginning
the writing process with young students. The book can also serve as a great
resource for teaching strategies involving prediction. The book has plenty of
examples of humorous play on words involving the word egg.
