"So the next day, the two men
gathered up the chickens in
cages, boxes, and crates.
They loaded them onto
wagons all tied together
in a line and set off for
the county fair to find
the chicks a loving home."
Kids love books where pandemonium is the name of the game ... especially if there are animals involved. Mr. Watson's Chickens is a book that will hit all the right notes for those readers. It is chaotic from start to finish, and makes a great read aloud that demands attention and hoots of laughter at the antics created by a love of chickens.
The number of eggs that fill the front endpapers offers a hint for what is about to happen. A series of spot illustrations provides an excellent lead-up for the story's opening page. Two men are carrying planks and wire, opening an instruction sheet, and building a pen that leads to one of the men (Mr. Watson) picking up a small animal carrier from a smiling woman and biking home with it.
As the story begins we see that same man, who lives in a tall, lime-green house with a very tiny yard, showing his partner their three new arrivals. They already have two dogs and three cats. Mr. Watson loves those new chickens and they love them. With each new day, their numbers grow all the way up to 456 chickens! The house is overrun; the chaos is evident. Birds everywhere!
"Chickens in the sink,
chickens on the bed,
chickens in the bread box,
chickens on their heads!"
Because Mr. Nelson loves cooking eggs, he seems okay with the noise and bedlam. Then comes the day when four chickens ruin his brand-new boots. He is no longer happy with the arrangement. The problems get even more annoying. Mr. Watson says he is thinking about what he can do. Finally, Mr. Nelson issues an ultimatum.
The following day, the chickens are crated up and being hauled away. All is well until Mr. Watson trips, sending the chickens hither and yon. They are found in every stall at the county fair, much to the chagrin of every operator there. Eventually, the two men find every chicken, save one. Turns out that Aunt Agnes, the singer of the flock, and her singing are a draw for their sale to a new owner. Off they ALL go!
The final scenes are full of emotion ... and result in a change.
Andrea Tsurumi's comedic artwork is a joy to behold. Her spreads are filled with chickens here, chickens there, chickens everywhere. The scenes are hilarious, detailed and will absolutely delight the little ones who share this book, especially while sitting on a loved one's lap. The full page spread that provides an aerial view of the fair will have readers searching obsessively to find the one chicken that is missing.
Love the storytelling, and the art.
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