The Buk Buk Buk Festival

February 15, 2015
The latest pun-filled poultry parody from the Auchs (Beauty and the Beaks, 2007, etc.) explores the travails and triumphs of a hen who strives to be a published writer.Henrietta Fowler loves to read, use the library and write her own stories. When she sees a poster advertising a children's-book festival with authors who are not chickens but people, she hatches an idea to write a new story about her young life and the concerns she has about leaving her cozy shell to go to "chickergarten." Pretending to be a poultry farmer, she submits her manuscript to five different publishers and is thrilled when all wish to publish her work. She chooses Holiday House "because they sounded like friendly people" who won't mind when they learn that she is a chicken. A starred review in The Corn Book lands an invitation to the book festival, which she "egg-cepts" only to find that when she arrives, her fowl persona is unwelcome. Recognized by her friend and local librarian, Henrietta is then allowed to "scratch her autograph" for her newest fans. The numerous references to the writing and publishing process for authors coupled with the double-entendre wordplay and vivid digitally created illustrations are an imaginative way to enlighten children while simultaneously giving adults an appreciative chuckle. This one should fly off the shelf frequently and will be eminently useful in author-visit prep. (Picture book. 5-7)

April 1, 2015

K-Gr 3-This is another offbeat and quirky entry in the series of "Poultry Parodies," a collection of picture books that feature chickens acting like people. In this story, Henrietta is a chicken who loves to read and write-rare talents for a chicken. Henrietta decides that the only way she will be published is to pretend to be human. She adopts the name of Henrietta Fowler, and, with inspiration from her three aunts, she writes and publishes Chickergarten. Auch's story is stuffed with numerous examples of wordplay, including the onomatopoeic title, the names of the fictional authors, and the ongoing silly use of egg throughout the story. For example, when Henrietta is invited to attend the Children's Book Festival, she "didn't need to brood over the invitation. She eggs-cepted right away." The story contains a second level of meaning as the Auchs slyly poke fun at the publishing review process and the difficulties of becoming a published author. At one point Henrietta eats the star that her book receives from The Corn Book, mistaking it for a bug. The illustrations are an unusual but interesting mix of realistic photographs and stylized digital art. VERDICT A fine book for a wordplay unit that celebrates the plucky outsider who brings a fresh perspective.-Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, Hillsborough, CA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
Grades K-3 Eggs-citing (and punny) adventures abound in this return of Henrietta, chicken and children's book author extraordinaire. Last seen in The Plot Chickens (2009), this wisecracking hen has finally published an acclaimed children's book (starred in the Corn Review!). Even better, she has just been invited to participate in a children's book festival as a featured author. But no one, not even her publisher, knows that Henrietta is a chicken, not a human, and her appearance causes complete chaos until a helpful librarian saves the day. The detailed, digitally retouched illustrations add an extra layer of humorHenrietta types away on her trusty Hunt & Peck typewriteras this farcical story pokes loving fun at the publishing industry. Those who have followed Henrietta's literary adventures in earlier poultry parodies will be thrilled to see her succeed at last, and young aspiring writers will find nothing but encouragement to pursue a craft.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)