Product Description
Caldecott Honor winner David Ezra Stein takes readers on a slapstick journey in his debut graphic novel series, featuring Beaky Barnes, a no-nonsense chicken who's determined to save her desirable egg. But with a hungry inspector, a desperate chef, and an entrepreneurial woman on her tail, Beaky has to use every tool in her chicken coop to make her grand escape.
All the inspector wanted was an egg to go in his sandwich, so he heads to the cafe. The problem? The town is entirely out of eggs, and the local chef is panicked. Luckily, he spots a lovely duo having lunch: a woman and a chicken named Beaky Barnes. It's his lucky day. But when the woman and Beaky have a fight over an offensive business arrangement (chicken-pulled coach service, anyone?), chaos ensues. With a chicken on the run, and an inspector and woman in hot pursuit, three stories emerge with hilarious results!
With laugh-out-loud madcap comedy on every page, David Ezra Stein's (Caldecott Honor winner of Interrupting Chicken) signature humor is on full display in this debut graphic novel!
From School Library Journal
Gr 3–6—In Caldecott Honoree Stein's graphic novel debut, readers are invited to join the residents of Simpleton for a wild chicken chase. Readers are initially introduced to the routine-oriented Town Inspector Cobb as he prepares to enjoy his daily lunch of an egg sandwich; however, things go awry immediately after the egg absconds from the confines of the bread. Cobb bolts to the town café to find a replacement, before learning that they are out of eggs. The chef, meanwhile, instantly closes shop to avoid a surprise inspection and sets out to find an egg for the inspector. Filled with despair, the chef is ready to give up when along strolls the chicken Beaky Barnes and her friend, headed right for the café. Subsequent spreads depict increasingly hilarious high jinks that ultimately culminate in a delightful conclusion that includes a trumpet-playing fish, a hardworking elephant, the chef enjoying a new role in life, and countless great ideas from the mind of Beaky Barnes, to name but a few features. Stein's signature watercolor and ink illustrations burst with humor and action on every spread, coupled flawlessly with clever wordplay and amusing dialogue. VERDICT Readers will be eager for more of Beaky's adventures. Highly recommended for purchase.—Olivia Gorecke
Review
"Readers will find new gags to giggle at with repeat viewings and will look forward to future comic encounters with Beaky and friends."—The Horn Book Magazine
“Increasingly hilarious high jinks that ultimately culminate in a delightful conclusion. Stein’s signature watercolor and ink illustrations burst with humor and action on every spread, coupled flawlessly with clever wordplay and amusing dialogue. Readers will be eager for more of Beaky’s adventures. Highly recommended.”—School Library Journal
“In inky cartoon panels that cross the narrative irreverence of the Marx Brothers with the breakneck silliness of French farce, Stein’s story affirms the folly of pigeonholing anyone—even a very big chicken.”—Publishers Weekly
“Full of ridiculous characters, zany antics, and tongue-in-cheek humor, this rollicking tale’s absurd storyline and wry humor calls up classic cartoon comedies such as Rocky and Bullwinkle or Looney Tunes and will keep even reluctant readers turning the pages.”—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
About the Author
Award-winning children's author and illustrator David Ezra Stein (he/him) was born in Brooklyn, New York. His works include Interrupting Chicken, Leaves, Monster Hug!, Tad and Dad, Pouch!, and Ol' Mama Squirrel. In addition to winning the Ezra Jack Keats award in 2008 and a Caldecott Honor in 2011, Stein's books have been named to several major book lists, such as Publishers Weekly's Best Book of the Year, Kirkus Reviews' Editor's Choice, and School Library Journal's Best Book. He lives in Kew Gardens, New York, with w
