The First Misadventure

April 28, 2014
This loopy mystery kicks off the Chicken Squad series, a spinoff of Cronin and Cornell's J.J. Tully Mysteries that is skewed to even younger readers. Retired search-and-rescue dog turned detective J.J. takes a minor role in this outing, leaving the spotlight to Moosh's four chicks. Though it's J.J.'s job to bail out the trouble-prone chickens, he enlists readers to take over while he naps: "Wake me if they get into any trouble. Well, big trouble. I'm sure you can handle a little trouble on your own." Trouble arrives in the guise of Tail, a terrified squirrel who storms the chicken coop insisting that "something big and scary" is after him. Led by Sugar, who records clues in her notebook, and Dirt, who uses her sketchpad to decipher the shape of the interloper, the chick siblings (camouflaged as clods of grass) and Tail set out to confront what they assume is a UFO. As Cronin and Cornell layer on the silliness, full-tilt slapstick springs from the chicks' banter and Tail's melodramatic ranting. Ages 7â10. Author's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.

July 1, 2014
K-Gr 3-Four chicks-Dirt, Sugar, Sweetie, and Poppy-and their timid squirrel friend, Tail, are out to solve a mystery. Tail claims he's seen something strange and scary. Getting him to come up with a better description, however, is a challenge. Was it a UFO? The Chicken Squad is determined to discover the truth. This may involve a sketch artist, grassy camouflage, a sure knowledge of both shapes and colors, and a frontal assault on the intruder. It will definitely involve an eye-rolling dog, misunderstandings, and chuckle-worthy histrionics. Adam Grupper and Michele O. Medlin go to town in performing the story, creating unique voices for each character and adding just the right amount of verbal grins to the tongue-in-cheek humor. This short chapter book is the aptly subtitled "First Misadventure" of our plucky heroes, and is sure to bring a grin to all listeners.-"Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA"

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