Gimme Shelter: Misadventures and Misinformation

By Doreen Cronin and Stephen Gilpin

Now an animated series on Disney Junior!

The Chicken Squad is back for their fifth (mis)adventure in this “lip-bitingly funny” (School Library Journal) chapter book from the bestselling author of Click, Clack, Moo and The Trouble with Chickens.

The Chicken Squad prides themselves on being ready for anything. Marshmallow life preservers? Check. Copious bags of jellybeans for a car ride? Check. Storm shelter? Storm shelter! They need a storm shelter in case there is ever a storm. So Sugar takes it upon himself to build one in the yard. But it turns out it’s not big enough for everyone. And the big dig has unearthed some mysterious surprises.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Release date: Dec 12, 2017
• ISBN: 9781534405738

Doreen Cronin

Doreen Cronin is the author of many bestselling and New York Times bestselling picture books, including Click, Clack, Quack to School!; Click, Clack, Surprise!; Click, Clack, Ho, Ho, Ho; Click, Clack, Peep; Click, Clack, Boo!; Dooby Dooby Moo; Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure; Bounce; Wiggle; Duck for President; Giggle, Giggle, Quack; Bloom; and the Caldecott Honor Book Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type as well as The Chicken Squad series and Cyclone. She lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her at DoreenCronin.com.

Book preview

Chapter 1

A little help here! Sugar yelled impatiently from the bottom of a hole in the yard. The hole was twice as tall as she was and three times as wide. Hellooooooo!! She leaned on her shovel and waited. A squirrel leaned in and dropped an acorn on her head. Sugar threw it back.

Ouch! Dirt’s face appeared at the top of the hole. What are you doing down there, Sugar? And why are you throwing acorns at me?

What does it look like I’m doing? Sugar answered.

It looks like you threw an acorn at me and fell into a hole, Dirt replied, leaning in closer.

For your information, I didn’t fall into this hole. I dug it myself.

Wait a minute. . . . Is that one of Barbara’s spoons?? asked Dirt, leaning in closer still.

Look for yourself, Sugar replied, holding the spoon close enough for Dirt to touch—and then nudging her right into the ladle.

HEY! said Dirt as Sugar tipped her out at the bottom of the hole. What did you do that for?

"I couldn’t get out of the hole on my own, and I am one hundred percent confident that you will get us out of here."

That would have been a lot easier to do from up there! said Dirt, brushing herself off. Now we have to wait for Poppy or Sweetie to get us out.

I’m not going to lie, said Sugar, my confidence just dropped to about thirty-seven percent.

I have an idea . . . , said Dirt.

Are you thinking that you climb into the spoon and I launch you out of here so you can find a rope long enough to pull me out of the hole?

No, said Dirt. I’m thinking if we lean the spoon at just the right angle, we might be able climb up the handle—

HEY! Poppy!! I found them! called Sweetie. They’re digging a hole for a pool! And there’s a slide!!

Sweetie leaped into the air, and she slid down the handle of the spoon on her behind.

Reviews for Gimme Shelter

[sheila1957 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Chicken Squad is back and decide to dig their own storm shelter. Suddenly they find a bone and think it may be a great archeological find. Now the squirrels and the chipmunks notice what the chickens are doing and have to get in on the act. What a spread of misinformation follows!I love the Chicken Squad. They are crazy. Dirt is the sanest of them while Poppy and Sweetie are often lost when Sugar takes the reins. Sugar is so full of misinformation that poor Dirt has a hard time giving the facts out correctly. They are so much fun. Then J.J. has to save them all. I love his deadpan handling as he tells the story. It puts me in mind of the voice overs in the old Film Noir movies of the 40's and 50's. I look forward to more of the Chicken Squad and J.J.

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Sugar is digging a hole to provide shelter in case of future storms, which leads to the discovery of an unknown object -- perhaps a fossil? Meanwhile, her siblings and other animals start digging their own holes in the yard as a result of Sugar's actions.This book has a prologue and epilogue told from the family dog's point of view, although I'm not quite sure why. The introduction briefly tells you at least the names of the four main characters, but it doesn't give a whole lot more than that. (For instance, who is Barbara?? She's referenced in the text but never seen or explained.) I'm not sure if reading the previous titles in this series would have helped with getting the characters straight, but I honestly didn't care that much to keep track of them. The story didn't seem to warrant it all that much.There is story is very slim, but it is rather humorous. There is also a great deal of science discussed within the book (particularly meteorology and archaeology) as well as some history, so children will be learning something while reading this without feeling like it's too much "work." The writing and vocabulary is relatively basic and the short chapters with black-and-white illustrations will appeal to those kids who are transitioning from early readers but not quite ready to tackle longer chapter books yet.

[thatonelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5-3.75: The Chicken Squad is back in "Gimme Shelter: Misadventures and Misinformation!" Adult readers will recognize immediately the current event inspiration in Cronin's latest outing for her chick crew. The chicks notice the human family taking furniture inside and assume that a horrible storm must be coming. So, the chicks decide (by non-unanimous vote) that they should build a storm shelter. As they chicks wade through the murky waters of voting rules, they inspire the other animals of the yard to build their own shelters. Boundary wars ensue until, finally, they must all work together to escape - GASP! - kids with leaf blowers! The Chicken Squad series continues to be an excellent choice for early chapter book readers and family read-aloud time. Begin with this installment (book five) or the first; there is plenty to enjoy.