Three Silly Chicks

Fun and Games at ALA & FB

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:32:00 +0000

As you can see, the chicks had a BLAST at this year's American Library Assocation annual conference. We think Andrea looks like a natural with that heavy blaster rifle, and Julia and Carolyn have decided to attend all future conferences as a Gamorrean guard and Sandtrooper, respectively.

We loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones, and we've brought back armloads of funny books to share with you in the months ahead. We also met some incredibly fun and charming authors (like him and her) who graciously agreed to visit the coop and answer silly questions for us in the future. Be sure to check back often, or better yet, subscribe.

And in other news, you can now see our smiling beaks over at Facebook. We'd love to see you there!

Bea Rocks the Flock

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:31:00 +0000

Bea Rocks the Flock
by Victoria Jamieson
Bloomsbury USA
ISBN: 978-1599902609

Poor Bea has a problem. And although she is a sheep, we chicks can totally relate. You see, Bea doesn't want to be like the other sheep. She wants to bleach her hair and wear black leather jumpsuits and be a rock star like Blondie. Oh wait. Nevermind. That's our dream, not Bea's. But still, Bea just wants to do her own thing and show her true colors, which are anything but white. As you might imagine, this doesn't go down well with the rest of the flock. Not one bit. So Bea packs her bags and heads for the big city, where she delights in the diversity of the crowd. "Great clanging cowbells!" she exclaims. "This is where I belong!"

...Or does she? Will Bea become a city girl forever or will she start to miss her flock? Check out this delightful book by the ultra-talented Victoria Jamieson to find out how Bea eventually resolves her identity crisis. A must-read for creative chicks and sheep everywhere who wonder if they'll ever fit in.

Tumtum and Nutmeg

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:12:00 +0000

Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall
Written by Emily Bearn, illustrated by Nick Price
Little, Brown and Company

While we hold chickens near and dear to our hearts, we also have a special fondness for mice. Okay, not real mice that scamper around our feet and make nests in our basements and leave droppings in our silverware drawers. No, not those mice. Storybook mice, like Stuart Little and Despereaux. We like our mice dressed up in little suits and drinking tea, and we just wish that the ones leaving droppings in our silverware drawer would at least leave us cute handwritten notes or perhaps a pair of tiny hand stitched gloves, or something.

We suspect that many children have the same fondness for storybook mice that we do, or else why would mice books be so darned popular? And this particular book, with its British tone, old-fashioned pen and ink drawings, and high adventure is bound to be one of the more popular ones. Poor Tumtum and Nutmeg are quiet mice, and yet they never get a moment of peace in this funny middle-grade novel. They are either battling spinster aunts, fighting pirate rats or freeing wild gerbils. And while the two main characters are endearing, the real star of the show is General Marchmouse, a foolish, impetuous chap who spends most of his time in his underwear. We love, especially, the scene in which his army of mice, dressed in fluorescent orange, battle against the evil, mouse-fearing Aunt Ivy. It was one of the funniest scenes we've read in quite a while.

This is a book to be shared with a classroom of children one chapter at a time. Fans of The Poppy series by Avi and The Redwall series by Brian Jacques will gobble up this series, too. Fast-paced and funny, this book has it all!

In the Coop with Adam Rubin

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Those Darn Squirrels!
by Adam Rubin
Illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
Clarion Books
ISBN: 978-0-547-00703-8

We Three Silly Chicks have a confession to make. Yes, we are silly. We are also friendly and kind and fluffy and yellow. But sometimes, we get grumpy. Wait. That's not the confession. Everyone gets grumpy. The confession is that we enjoy it! It feels good to get cranky. In fact, sometimes we put on our house frocks, roll our feathers in curlers and don on our rattiest slippers and practice saying things like "Get off our coop!" and "You come back here and we'll tell you what we really think!" just because it feels so good. Then, we eat some dry toast and prunes after which we find the mood (among other things) passes.

So imagine our delight at meeting Old Man Fookwire, the main character in Adam Rubin's delightful picture book, Those Darn Squirrels! First of all, we love his name. But even more, we love that he is a cranky, curmudgeonly, crusty old geezer! He's so old he sneezes dust. He hates pie and he hates puppies. However, he loves birds and spends his summers painting pictures of them.

Enter the squirrels. Those darn squirrels also love birds. Well, more acurately, they love bird seed and they are ingenious at getting it. What follows is a battle of wits between the crusty Old Man Fookwire and the Einsteins of the wild kingdom. Our money is on the squirrels.

Illustrated with a funky, playful style, this book is refreshingly offbeat and truly funny. In fact, we loved it so much, we wanted to know more about the author. So we invited him into the coop which made us very happy (and not the least bit cranky)!

Here's what Adam had to say.

The main character of your book, Old Man Fookwire, hated pies and hated puppies. How would he feel about puppy pie?

I imagine he would double hate it.

How do you know when what you write is funny??
I guess I’m never sure that what I write is funny until other people tell me so. I write what I think is amusing or fun and then hope that other people share a similar sense of humor.

Do you have any tips for writing funny books?
I got a good piece of advice from Larry Day. He said, “Create things that you like. If you worry about pleasing other people, you’ll always be disappointed.”

Has being funny ever gotten you into or out of trouble?
I used to carry a clown nose in my pocket. I also stuck a small piece of red felt onto the nose of my driver’s license picture. When people asked to see my ID, I would put on the clown nose while they looked down at the picture. They would wonder what the red felt was all about, then look up at my face and burst out laughing. It got me out of a speeding ticket twice.

What are some of your favorite funny books?????

The Far Side collections were extremely influential to my sense of humor as a kid. I think Gary Larson is a genius. I also love Calvin and Hobbes, there is a magnificent sense of wonder and imagination throughout all of Bill Watterson’s work. I’m also a fan of Dave Eggers’ Haggis on Whey series.

Do you prefer The Marx Bros or Three Stooges?

I’m more of a Buster Keaton guy but given the choice, I’ll go with the Marx Brothers.

What was your best Halloween costume ever?

In sixth grade, our math teacher held a “Mathquerade” for all the students. Everyone had to dress up as something math related. One girl dressed like a car and she was an “infinity,” my teacher was pregnant so she was “multiplying,” I put a rope around my neck and tied it to a small toilet which I held above my head. I was a “High-potty-noose.”

What is your Dream Job for a Day?

I have always wanted to work as a host on the home shopping channel.

How do you really feel about squirrels?

I like squirrels. They are fast, clever and agile which are qualities I admire in both animals and humans.

Clown V. Mime Deathmatch.? Pick your winner.

If there is one less clown and mime on the planet, everyone’s a winner.

Funniest dead person you'd like to meet??

I’d like to meet Mark Twain. He had a cool mustache and a cool pseudonym.

Your resume on your website says that you were an intern at the Daily Show for a summer. How would you describe that experience?

Ugh, that reminds me of how badly I need to update my website… My time at the Daily Show was a blast. Mostly, I answered phones and bought cereal for the writers but I had an opportunity to go on a few shoots and sit in on edit sessions from time to time. Everyone there was extremely nice, especially Ed Helms and Rob Corrdry.

In the Coop with Erica Perl

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:05:00 +0000

Guess what? Chicken Butt! Heh heh heh. We chicks have been using that line for years and yep, it makes us laugh every time. And now, children's book author Erica Perl has taken that joke and ramped up the humor times ten. Illustrated by chick fave Henry Cole, Chicken Butt! is a non-stop snort fest of fowl humor for the whole family. You know why? Chicken thigh!

The Three Silly Chicks are very pleased to have Erica Perl in the coop with us today, on the last day of her intrepid Chicken Butt! journey through the wild and wooly blogiverse. To celebrate her safe arrival back home, she will be giving away a signed copy of Chicken Butt! and other treats to one lucky winner. That winner could be you, dear friend! All you have to do is go to Erica's blog, Chicken Feed, and leave a comment today. Easy-peasy! Erica will then pick a random commenter to win the goods. So what are you waiting for? Go go go! Scoot on over there right now and leave a comment! Then come back here, put your feet up, and enjoy our talk with Erica...

How do you know when what you write is funny?

I don't. I just cross my fingers and hope it is. Actually, I read everything I write aloud and I test it on real kids - my own, plus some that are not related to me. If they don't laugh, I know something's up.

Do you have any tips for writing funny books?

Don't write what you think kids WILL find funny, or what you think kids SHOULD find funny. Spend time with kids so you discover what they DO find funny. And also so you remember what YOU found funny at their age. That's how Chicken Butt! came about. I know both perspectives - kid and parent - in that particular goofy face-off intimately!

Has being funny ever gotten you into or out of trouble?

Growing up, I would have gotten into a lot more trouble had my mother not been funny, too (note: I did not realize this until much later). In fact, my mother has requested that when she dies, we have her gravestone engraved to say: "SHE WAS FUNNY." Seriously.

What are some of your favorite funny books?

I love James Marshall's books, especially The Stupids Step Out. I also love M.T. Anderson's Whales on Stilts and Daniel Pinkwater's The Hoboken Chicken Emergency. In fact, I think The Hoboken Chicken Emergency is perhaps the funniest chicken book ever written.

If you could live in one of your books, which one would you choose?

I wrote Ninety-Three In My Family because when I was a kid, I always wanted more pets than my parents would allow. So I decided to write a book about a family with all the pets I could possibly want. As zany as it looks (thanks to Mike Lester's fabulous illustrations), it's clear that this family has a lot of fun together.

Who do you like more, The Marx Bros or Three Stooges?

Marx Brothers, hands down.

What was your best Halloween costume?

I once insisted on dressing up as the school lunch menu. I wore a sandwich board with the week's menu written on it, plus a paper plate hat with plastic food. I like to think that I'm the only person who has ever trick-or-treated in this particular costume… not because it is so funny, but because it makes absolutely no sense.

What is your Dream Job for a Day?

Woozler. It's my invented Dream Job. It involves spending the day at the zoo, cuddling and woozling all the animals.

Clown V. Mime Deathmatch. Pick your winner.

It's a draw. Both are extremely scary.

Funniest dead person you’d like to meet?

Roald Dahl, who was apparently not funny (as in ha-ha funny) in real life. But I would still love to have met him.

Is there anything funnier than a chicken butt?

You know what's more?

Two chicken butts! No -- FOUR!

My Fair Godmother

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Mon, 11 May 2009 23:35:00 +0000

My Fair Godmother
by Janette Rallison
Walker Books
ISBN: 978-0802797803

We three chicks freely admit to being picture book junkies. We dearly love a fun, simple story that goes straight to the punch in 32 fast-paced glorious pages. A great picture book is like the perfect dessert: a delectable pink-frosted cupcake providing immediate gratification. But when our busy schedules permit and we are not running around like…um…chickens, we often like to indulge in a nice long novel. As opposed to dessert, a novel is a full seven-course meal, a feast to be savored for as long as it takes to get to that cupcake ending.

Recently, we had the pleasure of a deliciously decadent read from start to finish. My Fair Godmother, by Janette Rallison, tells the story of Savannah, a high-school sophomore whose boyfriend dumps her for her older sister. Enter Chrissy, Savannah’s fair godmother (fair as in not all that good), to save the day. Only each time Savannah makes a wish, Chrissy manages to mangle it beyond all measure and go totally Medieval with the wish-granting. Who knew that getting a date to the prom could be so dangerous?

My Fair Godmother is one part fantasy, one part romantic comedy, and one part absolutely charming. Give this book to your favorite tween or teen, your BFF, the chick next door…anyone who likes a good, funny, clean read about wishes and proms and prince charmings. Oh, and did we mention ogres? Yes, ogres. And dragons too. (Trust us, you’re going to love it!)

Day Seven of NaPiBoWriWee--Wheeeee!!

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:29:00 +0000

YOU’RE ALMOST THERE! JUST ONE MORE PICTURE BOOK TO GO!

You should be darn proud, peeps! Give yourself a pat on the back and an extra glittery gold star. A brownie with a scoop of Ben and Jerry’s might be in order, too. Rewards are important! Here in the coop we keep a vat of bean dip for just such occasions.

For this last assignment, think of something in your childhood that made you extra proud. Were you the winner of the spelling bee in first grade? Did you stand up to the biggest bully on the block? Were you the best jacks player in the neighborhood?

Think of those moments today and see if you can craft a story out of one of them. Or use the above photo for inspiration.

Still stumped? See if you can use at least one of the following words in your title:

Sock
Rabbit
Zesty
Penny
Stomp

We heartily recommend the blog www.teachingauthors.com for your next venture—revision! The authors on this blog are all teachers, too, and have excellent advice for writers of all genres. Don’t stop now!

Day Six of NaPiBoWriWee

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:05:00 +0000

At this point in the week we kind of sort of hate picture books and everything that has to do with picture books. This includes:

Pictures
Books
Children
Writing utensils
Walruses

We don’t know why, we just hate walruses today.

But we will keep on keeping on! Just two more picture books to go! We’re in the final stretch! People are handing us cups of water as we limp towards the finish line hugging our pens and notebooks to our chests and gasping for air!

In the spirit of NaPiBoWriWee, try writing about a contest today. See if you can include the above picture somehow, or try using two of these words on the first page:

Dawdle
Pinch
Butter
Sun

Day Five of NaPiBoWriWee

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:39:00 +0000

Do you hate Paula Yoo as much as we do now? Why did we ever agree to go on this odd odyssey with her? Are we nuts? Is she?

Unfortunately, we’re in too deep now, Peeps. Onward!

Today’s “assignment” is to poke through old family albums. Look at the pictures and try to remember how you felt when the photos were taken. Think back to those important moments in your life—first day of kindergarten, first lost tooth, first time you tied your own shoes. See if you can craft one of your memories into a story.

Really think about the child you were. What did you love to do? Did you play with dolls or make tree houses? What did you love to read? Write for that child. You'd be surprised at how many stories are lurking in your own childhood.

Or brainstorm a list of:

Favorite toys you played with as a child
Favorite foods
Favorite games
Favorite (and least favorite!) teachers
Favorite pets

See if you can base a story on something from one of your favorites list.

Day Four of NaPiBoWriWee

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Today is “Get Out of the Freakin’ House” Day. Write somewhere new! The wonderful thing about writing picture books is that they are completely portable—all you need is a notebook and a pencil. So take your act on the road and see if your Muse visits. Try writing at one of these places:

A diner
A museum
A park
The zoo
The beach
Under a tree
On top of a tree

One silly chick has had great luck writing in airports—go figure!

You can use the above picture to get started today, or try using two of these words for your title:

Spot
Hoop
Nasty
Kitten
Sour

Use a pen with purple ink. Seriously. It helps.

Day Three of NaPiBoWriWee

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:37:00 +0000

One surefire way to come up with a new picture book idea is to go to a bookstore (preferably an indie!) and read the newest picture books. We swear this isn’t cheating and we guarantee it works! We have no idea why, but think that perhaps it has to do with feeding our heads with fun images and words.

Speaking of fun images and words, try working with today’s picture. Or use this phrase somewhere in your story:

“She spoke to warthogs all the time, but had never met a warthog quite like this one.”

Day Two of NaPiBoWriWee

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Sat, 02 May 2009 13:57:00 +0000

Have you ever seen something happen in the grocery store or at the bank and thought, “Gee, that would make a good story!” If not, keep your eyes and your ears open this week, because now that you are in Picture Book Mode, you just might see more stories. It’s kind of like when you learn a new word, and suddenly it seems as though everyone is using that word. Be aware of story possibilities all around you.

To help you with opening yourself up to stories, take some pictures at the park. Make notes about overheard conversations while you ride the bus. (You do keep a pen and a notebook with you at all times, right?) One fun exercise we’ve heard of is to sit down at a cafe and use snippets of conversations from different tables and incorporate it all into the same story.

“But that’s eavesdropping!” you might say. And to that we say, “Why yes, indeed, it is.”

See if you can incorporate at least three of these words into today’s story:

Tangerine
Mammoth
Tingle
Snoop

Or use the above picture to start your story.

Or, hey, do both!

Or neither!

Day One of NaPiBoWriWee!

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:59:00 +0000

It’s Day One of NaPiBoWriWee and we thought we’d start it off with a loud “peep!” To help you get your creative juices flowing, we are giving you a new chickie pic to use as a story starter every day this week. Look at today’s picture closely and see if you can answer these burning questions.

What are these chicks doing?

Why are they doing it?

Your first answer might be, “They’re crossing the road.” Go beyond your first answer!

If you’d like to make this more challenging, see if you can include the following words in your picture book:

Shoe
Idaho
Skinny
Mob

Have fun!

Calling All Picture Book Writers!

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:45:00 +0000

Boot up your laptop! Sharpen your pencils! Then pour yourself a nice big mug of....coffee. It's time for NaPiBoWriWee, or National Picture Book Writing Week, and you're all invited! We'll be doing it and we hope you will, too!

Our fabulous friend, Paula Yoo, is the mastermind behind this. We'll be posting tips and story starters all week. We've copied the rules from her website below. Have fun and get ready, peeps!

In the spirit of National Novel Writing Month ("NaNoWriMo") where
people across the country try to write a complete novel in one month,
the fine folks at www.paulayoo.com have decided to start the first
ever National Picture Book Writing Week, affectionately nicknamed
"NaPiBoWriWee."

The goal? To write 7 picture books in 7 days.

All NaPiBoWriWee participants should register on my website http://paulayoo.com
and comment on my blogs every day with your own progress.

For those of you who participate in the first annual NaPiBoWriWee, I
will select a winner at random on the 7th day - that winner will
receive an autographed copy of my latest picture book, "SHINING STAR:
THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY" (Lee & Low Books, 2009).

(For more info on the book, go here: http://www.leeandlow.com/books/368/hc/shining_star_the_anna_may_wong_story

The basic rules? Just write 7 complete and separate picture books in
one week. Each picture book must have a clear beginning, middle, and
end. There is no required minimum word count because picture book
lengths can vary from 50 words to 2000 words, depending on the genre.

I will be posting a blog every day for seven days with picture book
writing tips and encouragement and updates on my own progress, plus
links to The Three Silly Chicks who will also be providing similar
helpful blog tips.

For everyone who has a website or blog - you are encouraged to promote
NaPiBoWriWee on your blog/website/myspace/Facebook/Twitter. I only
request that you provide a link to my website - http://paulayoo.com.

And for those of you attending the national Society for Children's
Book Writers & Illustrators http://scbwi.org conference in August,
let me know and I'll arrange for an informal gathering during the
conference so we can meet in person and celebrate our first
NaPiBoWriWee!

For more info, contact me at paula@paulayoo.com.

To summarize, the basic rules:

1. Midnight May 1st to 11:59 p.m. May 7th: Write 7 separate and
complete picture books.
2. You are NOT allowed to write the same picture book in 7 variations.
Each book must be complete and separate.
3. No minimum word count. Instead, each book must have a clear
beginning, middle and end.
4. You are allowed to brainstorm and research book topics before May
1st.
5. You are NOT allowed to write a single word of your draft until
midnight May 1st.
6. There is NO minimum word count required. The fine folks of
NaPiBoWriWee require nothing but your word of honor. We will embrace
the Honor Code. If you say you have written 7 complete picture book
drafts in 7 days, we will believe you. Besides, why would you lie to
us? You're writing picture books for little children! Picture Book
Authors are nice, honest people who would never lie!
7. Please register on http://paulayoo.com in order to write comments
on Paula's blog every day with your progress and questions.
8. If you plan to blog about your NaPiBoWriWee journey, please include
a link to: http://paulayoo.com
9. A winner will be chosen from random of all the people who comment
from May 1-7 on http://paulayoo.com/. That winner will receive an
autographed copy of Paula Yoo's latest picture book biography,
"SHINING STAR: THE ANNA MAY WONG STORY" (Lee & Low Books 2009) by June
2009 when the book is released.
10. For those of you attending the national Society of Children Book
Writers & Illustrators conference in August, let
me know and I'll arrange for an informal gathering during the
conference so we can meet in person and celebrate our first
NaPiBoWriWee!

Good luck and I look forward to writing 7 picture books in 7 days with
everyone!

In the Coop with Jill Esbaum

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:44:00 +0000

We hope you've had as much fun as we've had celebrating National Poetry Month. As we sail into the final week of April, we thought we'd go out with a bang by inviting one of our favorite children's book authors to the coop. Jill Esbaum is the author of several fun books for kids, including Stink Soup, Estelle Takes a Bath, To the Big Top and Ste-e-e-e-eamboat A-Comin'! Now she's combined funny + poetry in Stanza, a delightful book about a tough street dog who secretly loves to pen poems. Illustrated by Jack E. Davis, Stanza is sure to please underdogs and poets of all stripes: secret poets, exuberant poets, reluctant poets... perhaps even poets-who-don't-know-it yet.

As if being a fabulous author weren't enough, Jill lives on a farm! And drives a tractor! And kisses piglets! (Don't believe us? Check it out!) Welcome to the coop, Jill!

How do you know when what you write is funny?

If it makes me laugh – and feels too clever to have come from my head. Unfortunately, after the first few drafts, lines that once had me ROFL feel about as fresh as a last summer’s roadkill.

Do you have any tips for writing funny books?

Only if I reveal it in secret code: Put the funniest end of the sentence at the word(s).

Has being funny ever gotten you into or out of trouble?

Not since junior high, when I underestimated the sensitivity of my phys ed teacher’s ears and learned that his sense of humor wasn’t compatible with my own.

What are some of your favorite funny books?

My current favorite is Mary Amato’s Chicken of the Family. I read it aloud at a picture book workshop last summer and had to keep stopping because my audience was hysterical.

If you could live in one of your books, which one would you choose?

Hmmm. I already live inside Stink Soup, so I think I’d like to visit Stanza’s alley. We could have some kickin’ poetry slams.

Who do you like more, The Marx Bros or Three Stooges?

Animaniacs, a hybrid of both.

What was your best Halloween costume?

My costumes must not have been too exciting, because I can only remember one: Jill. Like, of Jack and Jill fame? I know, real original. One of my friends was Jack, and we wore the costumes to walk in our small town’s Mother Goose-themed parade. Actually, we looked pretty good – down to the big silver buckles on our shoes. Too bad that, directly ahead of us, some farm girl was riding a cock horse to Banbury Cross.

What is your Dream Job for a Day?

I already have my dream job. But if I could try something else for a day, I’d like to give Editor a shot.

Clown V. Mime Deathmatch. Pick your winner.

Clown, definitely. Those shoes were made for stomping.

Funniest dead person you’d like to meet?

Ogden Nash. His poems have inspired me since I discovered “The Termite” in 4th grade:

Some primal termite knocked on wood

And tasted it, and found it good!

And that is why your Cousin May

Fell through the parlor floor today.

- Ogden Nash

Is there anything that you do on the sly (like Stanza) that we should know about?

Write novels. So far, I’ve done a spectacular job of keeping that a secret. Yeah, baby!

We've Got Our Eye on These Peeps

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 00:49:00 +0000

We chicks like to think that we can predict the future. For instance, we know it will snow again in the Chicagoland area this spring and we know that by the end of the April we will have eaten 25 leftover chocolate bunnies between us. We think we're downright spooky. So our readers should listen to us when we say that the following children's book authors and illustrators, who all have fewer than 4 books, will be BIG BIG BIG, and not from chocolate bunnies. No, these peeps will win BIG awards and make BIG speeches at ALA and possibly even ride a BIG float in the Macy's Day Parade.

We're talking BIG, and you heard it here first.

Antoinette Portis is Not a Stick or a Box or a Penguin. But she's a really cool author-illustrator.

Bob Shea is all that and then some. Really.

Let's not forget the fabulous Jan Thomas, who wonders about things like, "What Will Fat Cat Sit On?" The strange thing is, we've been wondering that ourselves.

These are our current picks. Let us know who you think is a real up-and-comer!

Happy Hector

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Happy Hector
Written and illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Candlewick Press

We're about to boss you around a little. First, put down whatever you're doing and cruise on over to your nearest independent bookstore. You there yet? Good. Now grab a cup of coffee and browse through the Tilly and Friends series by Polly Dunbar, but please, don't spill your coffee on these books. Honestly, how cute are those characters? One look at Hector the pig and we just want to eat him up with a side of hash browns!

In clear, precise language we learn on the very first page that Hector is sooo happy to be sitting on Tilly's lap.

"I am the happiest I have ever been!" says Hector.

When Tumpty, Doodle, Pru and Tiptoe (we heart those names!) want to play with Tilly, Hector tells them she's fine sitting there just with him, thank-you-very-much. But Hector's pals are insistent, and before he knows it everyone is sitting on Tilly's lap. (And that Tumpty has got some pudge on her!) Poor Hector is on the bottom of the pile.

"Now I am the unhappiest I have ever been," says Hector.

One by one, Hector's friends try to console him by asking him if he'd like his ears combed or if he'd like his nose painted blue. But all Hector wants is his dear Tilly, who is, as it turns out, making a present for Hector that is absolutely perfect for the sweet little pink porker.

Like Christopher Robin, Tilly is the ruler of her small kingdom, where she manages to solve all the animals' problems. This empowering, kid friendly book with its quirky characters is perfect to use with threes and fours at storytime. Don't forget to ask everyone to bring their favorite bear or pig!

In the Coop with Kenn Nesbitt

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Poetry Month is almost here, and to kick it off we thought we'd feature a...journalist! No, no, no. Not a journalist. Don't be silly. We're featuring a poet, of course. And not just any poet--a fabulously funny poet, our favorite kind! When he's not penning poems, Kenn is probably talking to kids about poetry. He does over 60 school visits a year, a truly impressive feat. Please welcome Kenn into the coop!

Tell us about your hilarious new book, My Hippo Has The Hiccups.
Oh my gosh... I'm so excited I can barely stand it, for so many different reasons. Ethan Long's illustrations are just wonderfully whimsical, and I'm so lucky he was able to work on it. This is also the first book where I've gotten to include an audio CD in the book. I had a blast recording and producing it. Oh, and it's my biggest collection of poems to date; over 100 poems about every silly thing under the sun. I'm tickled that it's finally out.

How do you know when what you write is funny?

If it's really funny, I crack myself up. It's fun, if a little bit strange, to make yourself laugh. But, even then, it's not always as funny to other poeple as I think it ought to be. Sometimes I miss the mark. So, after I finish writing something, the first thing I do is run it by my kids, Madison and Max. They're 9 and 11 now, and they are the toughest critics. If I can make them snicker, I know I'm on to something. Then I put it on my website and let my readers grade it. If a poem doesn't get top marks, it's not going to get published.

Do you have any tips for writing funny books?

Yes.

Has being funny ever gotten you into or out of trouble?
Perhaps just now, when I answered that last question. Aside from that, being funny has gotten me into trouble on at least one occasion that I can recall, but I'd rather not go into it. I mean, why bore your readers with an embarassing story of me cracking a joke at a completely inappropriate time only to have everyone glower at me as if I'd just tooted in church? As for getting OUT of trouble, I rely on "puppy dog eyes."

What are some of your favorite funny books?

Oh, that's an easy one. The funniest books I've read in the last couple of years are M.T. Anderson's Whales on Stilts, and Mary Amato's Snarf Attack, Underfoodle, and the Secret of Life: The Riot Brothers Tell All. The Riot Brothers series, by the way, was illustrated by Ethan Long, who also did the drawings in My Hippo.

Who do you like more, the Marx Brothers or Three Stooges?
Marx Brothers, hands down. Don't get me wrong, Larry, Curly, Moe, and Shemp -- wait... isn't that four stooges? -- were geniuses of physical comedy. (And "Shemp" is such a brilliantly funny name. Is it too late to change my name to Shemp?) But Groucho, Harpo, Zeppo, and Gummo were masters of both physical and intellectual comedy. I don't think anyone ever accused the Stooges of being witty. So, yeah I prefer comedy that gets you in both the belly and the brain.

Clown Vs. Mime Deathmatch. Pick your winner.
Thanks for all the slow-pitch softball questions. I love the easy ones. I mean, mimes are annoying, but clowns can be downright evil. The last time I went to the circus, I saw clowns that I would NOT want to tangle with. Besides, clowns run, jump, and do cartwheels, while mimes move in slo-mo. My money is on the clown.

Funniest dead person you'd ever like to meet?

Do they have to still be dead when I meet them? Could we bring them back to life and dust them off a bit first? If so, I would love to exhume, er..., spend an afternoon with a humorous Victorian poet such as Edward Lear, Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll), or W.S. Gilbert (of Gilbert & Sullivan) to see what makes them tick. Sure, maybe they're not as funny as Charlie Chaplin or John Belushi, but I expect they'd be more fun to have lunch with.

What is your Dream Job for a Day?
I know I'm supposed to say something like President or Rock Star or International Spy -- and that last one does sound pretty tempting -- but those jobs seem like they might be too much work (or too dangerous)! In truth, I'd think I'd really like to be the guy that brings you the drinks with the little umbrellas on some white, sandy beach in the South Pacific. I like working with happy people, and I'm pretty sure that everyone is happy while lying on a white, sandy beach in the South Pacific, having drinks with little umbrellas brought to them. In fact, could we make that my Dream Job for a Week or Two?

You do a lot of school visits! Can you tell us a little something about your program?
Well, let's see... I run around like a maniac and show kids how to write ridiculously funny poetry about sports, pets, food, space llamas, or anything else they want to write about. I yell a bunch of poems, crack jokes, and show them how much fun they can have with a book. I love my job! It is insanely fun to perform for hundreds of kids and have them laughing themselves completely silly. They seem to like it too.

National Poetry Month is almost here! Do you have a favorite poem you'd like to share in honor of it?

I have lots of favorite poems, so I'll just share this one, from My Hippo Has the Hiccups. It's not one of my funnier poems, but it just seems so apropos for National Poetry Month.

Today I Wrote This Poem

Today I wrote this poem,
but I wonder if it's good.
It doesn't have the things
my teacher says a poem should.

It doesn't share the feelings
I have deep inside of me.
It hasn't any metaphors
and not one simile.

It's missing any narrative.
Alliteration too.
It isn't an acrostic,
diamante, or haiku.

There's nothing that's personified.
It doesn't have a plot.
I'm pretty sure that rhyming
is the only thing it's got.

It sure was fun to write it,
and I think it's long enough.
It's just too bad it's missing
all that great poetic stuff.

I put it on my teacher's desk
and, wow, she made a fuss.
She handed back my poem
with an A++++!

The Cow that was the Best Moo-ther

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The Cow that was the Best Moo-ther
by Andy Cutbill
illustrated by Russel Ayto
Random House
ISBN-13: 978-0061664724
Daisy is a special cow. A VERY special cow. At least to her mother, Marjorie. Since the day Daisy hatched from an egg, she has been the apple of her mother's eye. And what's not to love? She's feathery, funky and fun-loving. The perfect bovine!

Of course the other cows are quick to point out that Daisy hasn't even started chewing her cud and she is suspiciously small for a cow. None of that matters to Marjorie. She loves Daisy with all her heart and is determined that Daisy win the Beautiful Baby contest in the barnyard. Daisy, however, is far too busy bouncing around with the chickens to care about the contest. Luckily, Daisy's true talents shine through when she spies a worm on the judge's hat and saves the contest from calamaty.

Of course, Marjorie isn't the only one to love Daisy. We know Three Silly Chicks who fell in love with the crazy little cow from the start. We said it then and we'll say it again: Silly, Sweet and Succinct. What more could we want in a picture book?

Patricia von Peasantsquirrel

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:06:00 +0000

Patricia von Pleasantsquirrel
by James Proimos
Dial
ISBN: 978-0803730663

Can we let you in on a little secret? We are worried about the mailman. We wonder if his memory is slipping. You see, we've been waiting for a long time now for a very special delivery--our crowns and invitations to be princesses in a distant land. We eagerly check the mail each day and bupkiss. So we were delighted to read about another Princess-in-Waiting (and waiting and waiting . . . ) named Patrica von Pleasantsquirrel.

Patricia is definitely a princess, but nobody seems to realize it. Her mother won't let her stay up late or have cake before dinner. Her brother is fussy and even her dog disappoints by not being a great white stallion. Really. It's simply too much for the royally-inclined to endure. So, Patricia flies off in her airplane to the land where the hippos are, because as she says, "If a silly boy with no social graces would be king with no effort at all, then imagine how easy it would be for me to find my princessdom!" Exactly!

Patricia finds her princessdom and loves it! Until she finds out about her 230 princessly duties. Who knew it could be such hard work being a princess! This sassy, fun book will be a hit with kids (and parents) who enjoy a bit of Sendak before bed and a bit of cake before dinner.

Happy Birthday Julia!

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:54:00 +0000

We Silly Chicks pride ourselves on being refined and literary poultry. But when one of us has a birthday, we throw out the Thoreau, ditch the Dostoyevsky, and say "What the Dickens, Let's party!" This week is Julia Durango's birthday and she has been working very hard. So, join us in wishing our dear chickie a very Happy Birthday!

Here's a little birthday song for you, Miss Julia! And because the only thing funnier than singing chickens is singing monkeys, here's another and yet another! And because we have no idea what this thing is, here's one more!

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday and many, many more!!!!!!! Love ya!

Illinois ASCD Statewide Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:51:00 +0000

Howdy!

We want to give a great big shout out to all the friends we made today at the 28th Annual Illinois ASCD Statewide Conference for Pre-Kindergarten & Kindergarten Educators!

We had a blast presenting a collection of our favorite funny books to share with preschoolers and kinders. Special thanks to the fabulous volunteers who helped our sessions run so smoothly and to Donald Kachur, Bev Taylor and all the wonderful folks at Illinois ASCD for having us!

As promised, here's a list of the titles we presented:

365 Penguins
by Jean-Luc Fromental
Illustrated by Joëlle Jolivet
Abrams
ISBN-13: 978-0810944602

Cha-Cha Chimps
by Julia Durango
Illustrated by Eleanor Taylor
Simon & Schuster
ISBN-13: 978-0689864568
Teacher's Guide

Doctor Ted
by Andrea Beaty
Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre
Margaret K. McElderry
ISBN-10: 1416928200
Teacher's Guide

The Doghouse
by Jan Thomas
Harcourt
ISBN-13: 978-0152065331

Ducks Don't Wear Socks
by John Nedwidek
Viking
ISBN-10: 0670061360

I Love My New Toy!
by Mo Willems
Hyperion
ISBN-13: 978-1423109617

My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks
by Hanoch Piven
Scwartz & Wade
ISBN-13: 978-0375840524

New Socks
by Bob Shea
Little Brown
ISBN-13: 978-0316013574

Not a Box
by Antoinette Portis
HarperCollins
ISBN-13: 978-0061123221

Where's My Mummy?
by Carolyn Crimi
Illustrated by John Manders
Candlewick
ISBN-13: 978-0763631963
Teacher's Guide

Duck! Rabbit!

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:10:00 +0000

Duck! Rabbit!
by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld
Chronical Books
ISBN: 978-0-8118-6865-5
Has this ever happened to you? You're walking down the street and you think you see an eskimo but you're wrong. If so, you've experienced an optical aleutian. Optical aleutions are funny. Optical illusions are also funny. And so is Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld.

Is this is a simple tale of ears or a beak? Is this a duck eating bread or a rabbit nibbling a carrot? Each double page spread shows essentially the same image of the creature with objects added to change the perspective. Kids will have great fun debating whether it's a duck or a rabbit. This book is a topsy-turvy delight.

(Personally, we think it's an altogether new beast probably related to the jackalope or turducken. But no matter if you call it a duck, a rabbit, a duckit or a rabbuck, you'll call this book fun!)

Chicken Cheeks

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:27:00 +0000

Chicken Cheeks
by Michael Ian Black
illustrated by Kevin Hawkes
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-1416948643

Warning: If you are the type of person who doesn't believe the word "bum" belongs in a children's book, then read no further. This book is not for you. Trust us. However, if you are the type of person who couldn't help but snicker or at least grin when you read the word "bum" a few seconds ago, then welcome to the coop, dear friend! Because we chicks find bums pretty darn funny, and the kids we hang out with think they're even funnier.

Chicken Cheeks is a fanny extravaganza, a delightful romp of rumps throughout the Wild Kingdom. From the cheeky chick on the cover to the moose caboose inside, each animal modestly displays his or her backside in an attempt to reach...oops, never mind, we don't want to ruin the surprise (rear) end! Master illustrator Kevin Hawkes never fails to deliver, and children's book newcomer Michael Ian Black slings around his synonyms so effortlessly that old Roget would be green with envy. Plus, it turns out Michael Ian Black is really one of us.

Tough Chicks

noreply@blogger.com (Three Silly Chicks) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:26:00 +0000

Tough Chicks, by Cece Meng, illustrated by Melissa Suber
Clarion Books
ISBN 0618824154

Okay, if you thought we could pass up a book titled Tough Chicks, well, then, you really don't know us very well. Plus, this book is fun, lively and has a message we embrace. This is definitely up our Chick Alley! Kudos, bean dip and chicken feed to Cece Meng and Melissa Suber!

"From the moment Mama Hen's eggs burst open, she knew she was dealing with some pretty tough chicks. Penny, Polly and Molly shook out their wet fluff and immediately began to strut their stuff. Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep!"

Oh, how we love the image of three tough, strutting chicks! These new heroes of ours wrestle with worms, race with bugs and check under the hood of Farmer Fred's tractor. They love the mud, they love to rope roosters and they love to hitch a ride on the cow's tail. Folks, these are not your average cuddly-duddly chicks, and we adore that about them!

Unfortunately, the other animals on the farm are not pleased with their rough and tumble ways. "Make them be good!" they insist. "But they ARE good!" Mama Hen tells them.This answer isn't good enough, so the animals give them lessons on how to be behave like proper chicks. They try teaching them to scratch for feed, build a nest, and cluck in a calm manner. But the chicks keep stirring things up with their wild and raucous ways.

"You are little fuzzy-headed chicks. Be cute. Be quiet. Be good," says Farmer Fred.

Grrrrr! say The Three Silly Chicks. Luckily, Penny, Polly and Molly stay true to themselves, and when Farmer Fred's tractor starts rolling down the hill towards the farm, these tough smart chicks know exactly what to do!

Melissa Suber's illustrations are bright and bursting with energy, just like the chicks themselves. We love the refrain, "Peep, peep, zoom, zip, cheep!" and think that kids will love repeating that during Spring storytimes. A positively chickalicious book in every way!