Which Came First: The Chicken or the Friendship?

November 23, 2020
Cycling with her father—on a double bike that’s a fun touch—determined, curious Starla Jean encounters “the skinniest, ugliest chicken” she’s ever seen. Struck by a desire to bring it home, she decides to meet her father’s unthinking challenge of “if you can catch it, you can keep it,” and succeeds. Disappointingly, readers never see exactly how she accomplishes this, but the ensuing events in Arnold’s (An Ordinary Day) four-part chapter book series opener entertain. Among them, the chicken gains the name Opal Egg, teaches baby sister Willa her first word, and is given a diaper in an attempt at house training. Color illustrations by Kang (My Big Bad Monster) emphasize Starla Jean’s impish nature while evoking a slightly conventional ambiance for the white family. The girl has a face that’s all blue eyes; when she’s resolute, the tip of her tongue pokes out of her expressive mouth. Generous white space keeps the momentum rising as running text—a single thought, or sometimes even one word, including the chicken’s initial squawk—stretches across spreads. A smattering of “Fun Facts About Chickens” creates a humorously informative closing. Ages 4–7. Author’s agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. Illustrator’s agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties.

March 5, 2021

Gr 1-2-In short chapters geared to newly proficient readers, an inquisitive child with spunk takes home a chicken she finds in the park, hoping it will be her pet. Starla Jean is a lively young white girl who enjoys being one with nature and riding her bike with her father. She narrates, and her droll tone is sure to draw readers in as she explains how she became a chicken expert. For good reasons, she names the chicken Opal Egg. In fact, Starla has a good reason for everything she does, and though the story is little more than a shaggy dog tale, but with a chicken, there is a happy ending. VERDICT A funny introduction to a new character and series, best for its humorous narration and a charming baby sister.-Annmarie Braithwaite, New York P.L., New York City

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 19, 2021
Grades 1-3 In her bright-red boots and denim jumper, Starla Jean is ready for anything. And a good thing, too, because when she and her dad get to the park, she hears a might bawk! and finds an ugly, scrawny chicken scritch-scratching for worms. Clearly, the bird is lost, so Starla Jean asks her dad if they can take it home, to which he utters the fateful reply, "If you can catch it, you can keep it!" So, she does. Over the course of four chapters, colorfully illustrated by Kang in a mix of sweet scenes and hilarious spot art, Starla Jean and her family make found-chicken signs, try to figure out what Opal Egg (the chicken's name, obvi) eats, and face a tough decision. A charming start to a promising new early chapter-book series.

COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2021
A routine tandem bike ride to the park with Dad ends in surprise when Starla Jean discovers a lost chicken scratching in the dirt. "'If you can catch it, you can keep it,' Dad said. He was laughing like he didn't think I could do it." In response to that challenge, Starla Jean gets the hen secured in her arms and named Opal Egg before the end of chapter two. This entertaining early chapter book is heavily illustrated with eye-catching, dynamic art that extends the story. The quaint town is full of beguiling details and neighbors, including the one whose chicken has gone missing. Interjections from Opal Egg are scattered throughout in bright red bawks! as she wiles her way into the hearts of Starla Jean's skeptical family members and accidentally teaches baby sister her first word. Starla Jean initially describes Opal Egg as skinny and ugly, but the illustrations show the hen also to be irresistible with her giant, expressive eyes. Large font and a snappy text with plenty of subtle repetition make this story approachable for new readers, while the content works equally well for those enjoying longer read-alouds. The book starts off identifying what Starla Jean knows, or thinks she knows, about chickens but concludes with accurate and interesting chicken facts, including that chickens enjoy sitting on a swing and can do very simple math. The ending indicates further adventures for Starla Jean. Julie Roach

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from December 1, 2020
A girl and a rescued chicken become best friends in a new series for developing readers. When Starla Jean finds a skinny, bug-eyed chicken at the park, her dad promises her if she can catch it, she can keep it. To her father's dismayed surprise, Starla Jean does indeed catch the chicken, immediately naming her Opal Egg. The more she learns about Opal Egg, the more Starla Jean wants to keep her, but what if the chicken belongs to someone else? This series starter features Starla Jean's exuberant first-person narration, liberally punctuated with dialogue with her family and neighbors. Readers transitioning to early chapter books will appreciate the four short chapters and the limited amount of text per page, wide margins, and ample space between lines of text. Occasionally, the white space around the text is humorously interrupted by bold, red chicken sound effects. Soft, textured cartoons in muted colors further the comedic storytelling and provide readers natural places to rest their eyes. Present on every double-page spread, illustrations range in size from small pictures set within the text to expansive illustrations taking up most or all of a spread. The setting is quaint, a rural town with picturesque stone bridges and old-fashioned houses. Starla Jean's family is depicted with light-brown or dark hair and pale skin. Elderly neighbors are depicted with pale or light tan skin and white hair. Mercy Watson fans will flock to this whimsical new series for developing readers. (Fiction. 6-9)

COPYRIGHT(2020) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2021
A routine tandem bike ride to the park with Dad ends in surprise when Starla Jean discovers a lost chicken scratching in the dirt. "'If you can catch it, you can keep it,' Dad said. He was laughing like he didn't think I could do it." In response to that challenge, Starla Jean gets the hen secured in her arms and named Opal Egg before the end of chapter two. This entertaining early chapter book is heavily illustrated with eye-catching, dynamic art that extends the story. The quaint town is full of beguiling details and neighbors, including the one whose chicken has gone missing. Interjections from Opal Egg are scattered throughout in bright red bawks! as she wiles her way into the hearts of Starla Jean's skeptical family members and accidentally teaches baby sister her first word. Starla Jean initially describes Opal Egg as skinny and ugly, but the illustrations show the hen also to be irresistible with her giant, expressive eyes. Large font and a snappy text with plenty of subtle repetition make this story approachable for new readers, while the content works equally well for those enjoying longer read-alouds. The book starts off identifying what Starla Jean knows, or thinks she knows, about chickens but concludes with accurate and interesting chicken facts, including that chickens enjoy sitting on a swing and can do very simple math. The ending indicates further adventures for Starla Jean.

(Copyright 2021 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)