Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise: Interrupting Chicken, Book 2
Playfulness makes silly sequel as hilarious as original.
Kids say
Based on 1 review
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise, by David Ezra Stein, is a sequel to his very funny and wildly popular Caldecott Honor book, Interrupting Chicken. It brings back Papa and Chicken, who again read stories together. But this time, the exuberant and irrepressible Chicken is determined to find the "elephant of surprise" in every story, and when there isn't one -- surprise! -- she inserts one, providing parents and kids the opportunity to revisit classic tales while having lots of storytime fun.
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What's the Story?
In INTERRUPTING CHICKEN AND THE ELEPHANT OF SURPRISE, Chicken begs Papa to read to her after school since she wants to look for the "elephant of surprise" her teacher insists is in every story. Though Papa patiently explains that the teacher must've meant "element of surprise," Chicken is not daunted. As Papa makes his way through their storybook, reading "The Ugly Duckling," "Rapunzel," and "The Little Mermaid," Chicken figures out how to insert an elephant in each. Even when Papa decides to tell his own story, one in which there are pointedly no elephants, an elephant manages to appear. Chicken says, "Oh, Papa! I knew there’d be an elephant in the story." Papa replies, "So did I, somehow."
Is It Any Good?
This fun story promotes reading, references classic tales, and depicts a loving dad and daughter, while featuring an exuberantly creative chicken and a silly blue elephant -- what's not to like? Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise is a sequel that's every bit as fun as its original. Kids will love revisiting the familiar classic tales, then seeing how Chicken upends each one by inserting an elephant at a critical juncture. And of course, in each, her elephant of surprise is the element of surprise.
David Ezra Stein's art is detailed and colorful, underscoring the warm family relationship. The happy, book-lined home is complete with comfy reading chair and bright, bloomy upholstery roses. The pages on which Papa reads snippets of fairy tales are muted and affect a classic look. By contrast, the elephant who interrupts those stories is bright blue, and dressed in hilarious costumes. (Gotta love the coconut shells that riff on the the Little Mermaid's seashells.) Readers will be charmed and swept along by Chicken's spirited story doctoring, just as Papa is.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the element of surprise in Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise. What do you think the surprise is in this story? Can you think of surprises in other stories?
Can you think of other classic fairy tales that Chicken could put an elephant of surprise in? Which stories? Where would the elephant appear?
Have you ever misheard a word and thought it was a different one? Have you ever mixed up the words of a song? Or something someone told you? Could you write a funny story about it?
Book Details
- Author: David Ezra Stein
- Illustrator: David Ezra Stein
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Princesses, Fairies, Mermaids, and More, Book Characters, Fairy Tales
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Candlewick Press
- Publication date: September 11, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: November 10, 2021
Our Editors Recommend
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Interrupting Chicken, Book 1
Funny award-winning book imparts gentle manners lesson.
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Runny Babbit Returns: Another Billy Sook
Scrambled letters make funny poems even sillier.
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Old MacDonald Had a Boat
New spin on old song when Old MacDonald retools his boat.
For kids who love picture books and humor
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