Module 1: Interrupting Chicken

Book Summary:  This is colorful and joyful picture storybook of an enthusiastic, smart and helpful little red chicken who lives with her father, Papa, and likes to hear bedtime stories before she goes to bed.  The only problem is that little red chicken cannot seem to just sit and listen to the story that Papa reads.  Once Papa begins the story and gets to a part of the story that may be harmful to the character, little red chicken interrupts him and tells the story character what to do.  Then the story ends and the characters are saved from danger.  Papa keeps telling little red chicken that she has to sit and listen but she only wants to help out the character because she knows will happen.  After Papa reads three stories, he tells little red chicken that they are out of stories and it was time for bed.  Little red chicken protests and Papa then tells her to read him a story instead.  He makes up a story and pretty soon Papa has fallen asleep.  Little red chicken then climbs into bed with Papa and FINALLY goes to sleep.

Reference: Stein, D. E. (2010). Interrupting chicken. New York, NY: Scholastic, Inc.

Impressions: I though this book was hilarious and very true when it comes to a child who wants to "help out".  Little red chicken was so anxious to tell the characters about what was to come, all the while frustrating Papa.  Stein truly captured how a parent feels when they are battling with their child and keeps pushing even when they want to throw in the towel. This book would fall under realistic fiction only for the mere fact that I immediately thought of my own experiences as a parent dealing with my anxious child.  You can relate to the story 100% if you are a parent, in my opinion.

The illustrations were phenomenal and filled the pages with bright colors of red, blue and yellow. The style of illustration leaned more towards collage because it seemed as if the pictures were three-dimensional and a texture of paper figures.

He gave humor to serious literature and I can see a child cracking up laughing at how little red chicken interrupts every story. He incorporated classic tales in his stories that a parent would have heard as child and made them modern.  I will definitely be reading this story to my own children and students at my school. Also, I highly recommend this book to ages 4-8 and parents who like to read to their child at bedtime with an anxious listener.

Professional Reviews: 
From Booklist

At bedtime, Papa prepares to read an old favorite to the little red chicken, but before beginning, he reminds her not to interrupt the story. Reassured, he begins “Hansel and Gretel,” but just as the two children approach the witch’s house, up pops the little red chicken, exclaiming “‘DON’T GO IN! SHE’S A WITCH!’ . . . THE END!” Two more attempted bedtime stories end abruptly with the little red chicken saving Little Red Riding Hood and Chicken Little. The childlike humor of this wonderfully illustrated picture book will bring belly laughs from kids, particularly those who know the original stories. Stein uses page turns dramatically to build tension, which is released each time the chicken interrupts and amends a fairy tale. Differences in medium and style differentiate between scenes taking place in the folktales and in the main story. Created with watercolor, water-soluble crayon, and pen and ink, the illustrations are vivid and dramatic. Great fun for reading aloud. Preschool-Grade 3. --Carolyn Phelan

From Kirkus ReviewDespite repeated vows to stop interrupting, a little red chicken can’t resist jumping in to cut her Papa’s bedtime tales short with plot giveaways—“DON’T GO IN! SHE’S A WITCH!”—and truncated, happy endings. Endowing his poultry with flamboyantly oversized combs and wattles, Stein switches between stylish but cozy bedroom scenes and illustrations from each attempted story (into which little red chicken forcibly inserts herself) done in a scribbly, line-and-color style reminiscent of Paul Galdone’s picture-book fairy tales. Having run out of stories, exasperated Papa suggests to little red chicken that she make one up for him, which she does in laborious block print on lined paper, complete with crayoned stick-figure illustrations. Closing with an intimate snuggle after Papa instantly dozes off, this tender iteration of a familiar nighttime ritual will be equally welcomed by fond parents and those children for whom listening to stories is anything but a passive activity. (Picture book. 4-6)

References:
Kirkus Review. (2010). [Review of the book Interrupting chicken, by D. E. Stein]. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/david-ezra-stein/interrupting-chicken/

Phelan, C. (n.d.). [Review of the book Interrupting chicken, by D.E. Stein].  Booklist Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Interrupting-Chicken-David-Ezra-Stein/pid=4138434

Library uses: This book would be great for compare and contrast or a lesson on single parent homes.  It could also be a great book on the color spectrum for an art class.