Interrupting Chicken

Written by David Ezra Stein

Narrated by Andrew Watts

David Ezra Stein is an accomplished author of children's books and has been honored with the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. In Interrupting Chicken, Papa warns little red chicken not to interrupt as he sets about reading their nightly bedtime stories-but the eager chicken just can't help warning the fairy-tale characters about the dangers they face. Frustrated to no end, Papa finally gives the little chicken the chance to tell a tale. Now will Papa be able to stop himself from interrupting?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 22, 2013
• ISBN: 9781470357177

Reviews for Interrupting Chicken

[cdwilson27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of my favorite read-alouds for elementary school audiences. Chicken is getting ready for bed but can't fall asleep until her Daddy reads her a story. He cautions her not to interrupt, but she can't help herself. In addition to being hilarious, this is a warm tale of the bedtime story ritual and parent-child bonding.

[novalibrarymom · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is for any parent who has attempted to read with little ones. While my children are still too young to appreciate this selection, both the adults in our house laughed out loud while reading it.

[glmw_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best for Read Aloud!

[robinsonstef · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fun book! Great as a bedtime story or to use to talk about not interrupting.

[bre201 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A chicken and her Papa read a series of classic fairy tales before bed. Chicken promises not to interrupt the stories, but does every time. When she finally settles down, she tells a story. Papa is the one who falls asleep and interrupts the last story with his snoring.

[caliesunshine · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The story of the interrupting chicken was a cute bedtime story. It was about a papa chicken reading to his baby chicken and the baby chicken kept interrupting the story. The chicken didn't want to hear anything bad, but I think the chicken was also putting off bedtime. Finally the papa chicken had the baby chicken read him a story, papa did not interrupt and he fell soundly asleep. I loved the colorful drawings in this story. The pictures were vibrant and it teaches a good lesson about how if you keep interrupting you will never hear the end of the story!

[lycomayflower · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A young chicken loves for her papa to tell her bedtime stories but can't keep herself from interrupting to tell the characters the thing that will keep them out of trouble. Amusing, and the illustrations are in an interesting, saturated style that I quite liked.

[s_trevor · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interrupting Chicken is a book about a father reading his son a bedtime story. The catch here is that the little red chicken won't stop interrupting the story with his own ending! Eventually, they run out of stories, so the little red chicken makes up a story on his own.The big reason that Interrupting Chicken is deserving of the Caldecott Award is the versatility Stein displays in his art. There are 3 distinct styles. There is the main style of art that pictures the characters, there is the “storybook” art; vastly different, reflecting the style of older children's artists such as Beatrix Potter. The third is an entertaining, childish scribble that represents the little red chicken's own story. Stein succeeds in creating expressive characters using all three styles of art.Aside from teaching kids not to interrupt, this book isn't necessarily an educational one. It would be a fun interactive book. The end of the book has the little red chicken telling his own story; could be a good segway into having kids try their hand at a writing exercise.

[lesliemuir · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interrupting Chicken is about a young chicken having bed time stories read to her. When her Papa gets to the middle of the story, she hops up and shouts out the ending, making it impossible for her to fall asleep. The images are bright and warm, giving the sense that this is a comfortable story time and that it's a loving home, while still expressing little chicken's wild energy. The change in design between the stories that are being read and the story we are in is very pronounced and helps break apart the text for readers. I love reading this one to my student's because they always perk up and yell out the sections that little chicken interrupts in, too. They also laugh more than at any other read aloud book we share, so I know that I'm not the only one who finds this humorous.

[satinajensen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Story of a little chicken who keeps interrupting his dad while he is telling him stories.

[weisser4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love how this book addresses how prevalent blurting out is in school! My students loved it today andit really helped drive home why we need to raise our hands and let others finish speaking before we begin!

[rosa.mill · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Papa is trying to read the little red chicken a story, but he keeps warning the characters and ending the story early. I loved the change in style for the storybook papa and chicken were reading, vs themselves vs little red chickens story. It was a lot of fun and the little red chicken definitely reminds me of one of my kids at the library.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Papa reads bedtime stories to the little red chicken, but as each fairy tale is read, the little red chicken interrupts. Finally Papa asks the little red chicken to tell him a story. The illustrations are cute, and I loved the use of the old Fairy Tales in the story and illustrations. This one is very deserving of its Caldecott honor status.

[ramfam5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this book. I gave it 5 stars because it is so fun to read. I read this book during my mentor sentences lesson. Students had to guess why I chose this book. They were laughing the entire time!

[reynolds2-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

 Sweet, funny story! Love the looks of surprise on the faces of the storybook characters as little chicken enters the story and changes the endings for his own please!

[rwoody-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I love the illustration of the characters. How Papa demeanor towards chicken little when he reads the story and ask Your not going to interrupt are you? Excellent theme especially for little ones who like to interrupt others when some one else is talking. I think this book is great for preschool age and kindergarten students.

[ginabayne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely love this story the entire way through. The relationship displayed between the father and child was cute and realistic. The illustrations were very colorful and expressive which helped provide humor and personality to the story. The relationship between the father and child is presents a healthy relationship. The way the tables turned with the father falling asleep instead of the child was a very cute part of the story. The dialogue also showed the kind of relationship they shared. The illustrations were very colorful and expressive through its style and precise body language. For example, when the child chicken interrupts the story, the illustration shows the chicken jumping into the fairy tale itself. This definitely brings the humor of the story to life. The central message of the book conveys that we should enjoy our time with loved ones such as our parents.

[cyoung23 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When a child has such an enthusiastic personality, sometimes letting them take the reins is better than trying to tame the excitement. In my opinion, this is a sweet, and comical story for all ages. The vivid, and exciting illustrations captured my attention immediately, and kept the story interesting. Little chicken’s excitement over the books made me laugh out loud a few times for the blunt endings she created. At the end of her father’s “Little Red Riding Hood” story she shouted, “DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS!’ So Little Red Riding Hood didn’t. THE END!” Structurally, the book followed a clear pattern that was easy to understand. Little chicken and her father shared an endearing relationship that is easily relatable. The way little chicken said, “Good night, Papa,” while rubbing his head, exemplified her admiration for her Papa.

[parejess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was another cute book. Chicken needs to go to bed, but she keeps interrupting her father's bedtime stories instead of being lulled to sleep by them. The words were entertaining, for they took well-known stories and broke them up with Chicken's silly, briefly summarized endings. The drawings of Chicken in each of the stories she was being read were so different--one of them definitely did not belong. Their contrast aided the point of the book, for I could definitely see a five-year-old laughing at Chicken saying that she came into the story of Hansel and Gretel and ate the witch's candy house.

[jdwalker-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a story about a young chicken that has a hard time listening to a complete story when her dad is trying to put her to bed. Each story that her dad tries to read ends with her interrupting right before the main character has something bad happen to them. She quickly sweeps in, solves the problem and ends the story. After the dad gets frustrated with his young chicken daughter, he suggests that she read him a story. The book ends with the dad falling asleep in the middle of his daughters story. Very cute story! I love how the chicken wants to interrupt so that nothing bad happens to the characters. I also think the last picture of the daughter chicken and the dad chicken asleep together is super precious. My children enjoyed hearing this story and I can't wait to read it to my students.

[dms02 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We laughed out loud at this one...and even laughed again a few days later as we were still using lines from this book.

[mariekagreene · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a fun book, and would find most children delighted, but I don't find it worthy of more than one read. I am surprised that it is so popular.

[auhaddad · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a beautiful story about a little chicken who keeps interrupting his dad as he tells a bed time story. It is a great story to teach children about interrupting.

[dukefan86 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book tickled my funny bone, and also brought back fond memories of bedtime stories. Really enjoyed the illustrations on this one too!

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It's time for a story before bed, but interrupting chicken cannot help but get a word in edgewise with every story Papa tells. She wants to warn Hansel and Gretel about the candy house in the wood, tell Chicken Little not to worry about the sky falling, and so forth. Papa finally gives up and asks her to tell the story. She starts to, and Papa promptly falls asleep.I really loved the concept of this book. It's fast-paced and witty, relying heavily on the dialogue between Papa and his daughter. It's like a comedy duo routine in which Papa is the straight man who sets up the joke by asking his daughter if she's going to interrupt the story or not; she always says no but then can't help herself once the story starts. It's a very cleverly done story with great illustrations to boot, but I'm not sure if this one of those books that ends up being funnier to the adults in the audience (who can likely related with the exhausted Papa). Nevertheless, my niece wanted me to read this book to her over and over again so I guess it's popular enough with the little ones!

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Rude fowl! Lots of fun. Great read aloud choice.

[rcreamer10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary: It's bedtime for the little red chicken, and Papa agrees to read her a bedtime story as long as she doesn't interrupt. However, the little chicken can't help but interrupt as she hears stories about Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, and Chicken Little. The little chicken has to save the characters in the stories from danger and re-write the endings of the stories. Papa gives up and asks the little chicken to tell him a story. As she writes her own bedtime story, she finds that Papa has fallen asleep, and it is finally time for bed. Genre Critique: This is a good example of a fantasy, because it would not be possible for chickens to be personified in the real world. The chickens talk, read stories, and live in a house just as humans do. Even though this part of the story isn't real, the reader will be able to connect with the story and relate with the idea of reading a bedtime story and having the child interrupt countless times. Children may also be able to relate to having a love for reading and being read to. Media: watercolor, water-soluble crayon, china marker, pen, opaque white ink, tea

[diamonddog_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was told to be on the look out for this book - from several people. It's bedtime and Papa wants to read little red chicken a story. Papa tries three different stories and each time little red chicken cannot help herself - she must jump right in there and participate in the story, i.e. interrupt. For example, while her poor father is in the middle of reading Little Red Riding Hood, little red chicken must interrupt the story with a big ole "Don't talk to strangers!" aimed right at Little Red Riding Hood. This is an excellent story for sharing aloud or reading together at bedtime. It would be a great addition to a storytime on manners, chickens, or even behavior. But can I talk about the one little, itty, bitty, tiny bit of the story that really bothers me?!?! Please???

Through the entire story little red chicken is referred to using female pronouns. Look at her! She's a rooster! Roosters are boys! Which means, she should be a HE!

Ok, I am a librarian - I do not know a heck of a lot about roosters or chickens, so I thought I would do some research. The three things about little red that bother me are: the big crest, the big wattle, and the long green tail feathers. When you have those three things, you have a rooster. Yes, yes, I know - female red chickens can have a crest and wattle too, though they are typically much smaller and red hens do not have long, green, tail feathers. (see "The Little Red Hen")

I know, there's artistic license and all that stuff, but really, doesn't little red look like a boy rooster? Am I missing some deeper joke? Help!!! I suppose if she was missing one of the nagging elements, it wouldn't bother me so much... maybe. To be honest though, it probably would. Picture books are usually a great teaching tool - but only when they are accurate.

I know that kids are really not going to care. They are going to hear this fun loving story about a father and daughter at bedtime and want to hear it again and again... It really is a fantastic story, and so fun to read aloud, but can't we just be somewhat accurate in the illustrations?!? Please? Thanks for listening to my rant - or totally ignoring it :) Everyone is entitled to their own opinion!


***Edited to add: What was the Caldecott committee thinking?!?

[laene_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Interrupting Chicken introduces children to a wondrous world of detailed folk-art filled with subplots and relatable characters as Papa Rooster tries to read his little talkative chicken a bedtime story. It is the winner of the 2011 Caldecott Honor.

[irachelsweet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Characters: Little red chicken, papa chickenSetting: Bedtime at little red chicken's bedroomTheme: Bedtime story, humorSummary: Little red chicken is ready for bed and papa chicken is ready to read her a bedtime story. But Chicken couldn't stop but interrupt during the climax of each story. She chimes in to add her thoughts, which prompts papa to suggest that she tells him a story instead since they were out of stories. With enthusiasm, she reads him her story only to be interrupted by papa's snoring in the middle of her narrating. She turns out the lights, wishes good night to her papa, and falls into a sweet dream beside him.Review: I can confidently say that this book was the cutest I have read in a very long time. I especially loved how the illustrator embedded Chicken in a scene of a traditional, well-known story with a speech balloon filled with the font that simulates child's handwriting. Later when Chicken tells papa her story, her writing and pictures bombarded me with cuteness to the point of making me squeal. Teachers can use this book for creative writing prompts. They can take an existing fairy tale and have students create their own ending or a sequel. Curriculum ties: Language arts (creative writing)Award: Caldecott