By David Ezra Stein
Candlewick Press, 2010 (board book 2019)
Board book/Picture book, 34 pages, ages 3-6
It is bedtime. Papa settles his little red chicken into bed to read a story with the proviso that she will not interrupt. “Ok, Papa. I’ll be good,” she promises.
They begin with Hansel and Gretel and when the old woman invites them inside her candy house … “DON’T GO IN! SHE’S A WITCH!” interrupts Chicken.
After agreeing not to interrupt this time, Papa starts a second fairytale, and … Chicken can’t help herself! What happens when she interrupts until there are no stories left?
This is a Caldecott honor book, and it’s easy to see why. The story is solid and the characters practically jump off the page (or out of books). Both Papa and Chicken have distinct, strong voices.
This is a fun introduction to a more complicated, story-within-a-story plot. But it is deftly handled by Mr. Stein, switching art styles as a visual cue when the stories jump back and forth, making it easy to follow. While the art style is expressive and colorful, it makes it harder to clearly read the characters and their expressions, which is why half a star is deducted from the rating..
There is humor aplenty for kids and adults. Kids will relate to Chicken’s bedtime woes, her enthusiastic approach to stories, and her practical (if unorthodox) solutions to those stories’ endings. Adults will commiserate with Papa, laugh along with their kids, and appreciate how Mr. Stein ruthlessly shines a light on the plot holes in the fairytales we grew up with. There’s something for everyone to enjoy in this endearing read.
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein gets 41/2 stars from this reviewer.