Summary: This story follows the adventures of J.J. the
dog and the pesky chickens with whom he shares the yard. There is a mother and two chicks. Come to find out, two other chickens went
inside the house and disappeared.
“Moosh” bargains with J.J. to help rescue them. Along the way, the plot thickens as Vince the
Funnel, the inside dog, gets involved.
He and the chickens planned an elaborate ruse to try to help Vince avoid
going to the vet to get tubes in his ears.
It takes J.J. some time, but he figures out the trick and is able to
escape in the nick of time. Impression: This was a really cute story. It reminded me of Hank the Cowdog from my
days babysitting. There was action,
adventure, and a sarcastic narrator, all of which add up to make a fun book. Suggestions
for library setting: This could
certainly be a book that a librarian could book talk to students. I could see it being used for struggling
readers, because the story is quickly paced and carries the plot along at a
quick pace.
Cronin,
Doreen. (2011). The trouble with
chickens: A J.J. Tully mystery. New York, NY:
Balzer + Bray.
THE
TROUBLE WITH CHICKENS Popular farmyard chronicler Cronin (Click, Clack, Moo: Cows
That Type, illustrated by Betsy Lewin, 2000, etc.)makes the
jump to middle-grade fiction in this faux–hard-boiled mystery featuring talking
animals. Her deadpan humor is much in evidence as she describes the
circumstances under which retired search-and-rescue dog J.J. Tully undertakes
the case of the missing chick. Puns abound, and J.J. is definitely not quite as
clever as he believes himself to be, allowing readers to gently laugh at as
well as with him. Sophisticated vocabulary and a complicated plot suggest the
older range of readers as the most likely audience, but frequent illustrations
and a relatively large font should make the story accessible to the younger end
as well. Cornell’s black-and-white drawings extend both the humor and the
action. In some pictures J.J. is slightly reminiscent of Scooby-Doo, another canine
sleuth, while in others he is both distinctive and dogged in his determination
to solve the puzzle. The chickens, mother and four chicks, are seriously silly
looking and utterly adorable, which suits their surprisingly rounded characters
just right. Finding out how “Vince the Funnel” fits in, whether J.J. is
being double-crossed by his client and how the climactic rescue will be
resolved should keep readers engaged while Cronin’s constant word-play will
keep them giggling. Fast and funny.
The
trouble with chickens. (Feb. 15,
2011). Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved
from: http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/doreen-cronin/trouble-chickens/
The Trouble with Chickens Coming
from a background in picture books, Cronin takes the leap into chapter books
for younger readers. In classic Cronin style, the reader is introduced to J.J.
Tully, retired search and rescue dog who is now living in the country. J.J. is
asked by a mother chicken,
Moosh, and two of her chicks to help find her two missing chicks, Poppy and
Sweetie, in exchange for a cheeseburger. The missing chicks end up inside with
Vince the Funnel, who looks like a "cross between a dachshund and a
lamp." He needs the funnel because of an ear infection. Vince doesn't want
to share his space with anyone else, so he devises a plan to get rid of both
J.J. and the chickens.
As the mystery unravels, the truth becomes clear to all players. This is a
perfect choice for a read-aloud or a student who needs an easy transition into
chapter books. Illustrations are creative and work well with this funny and
fast-paced story that will make the reader want more adventures of J.J. and
friends.
Mooney, M.
(2011). The Trouble with chickens. Library
Media Connection, 30(1), 63.
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