Interrupting Chicken

Written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2010.

Interrupting someone while they are talking is a bad habit, and we are all guilty of it. In the case of this story, Chicken likes to interrupt stories. It's bedtime for little red chicken, but she can't go to sleep without a story. Papa says he'll read her a story "and of course you are not going to interrupt the story tonight, are you?" She assuredly says "Oh no, Papa. I'll be good." So Papa begins the tale of Hansel and Gretel and just as the story gets going, little red chicken pops into the story (literally), in an attempt to save the characters. But, she ends up ending the story abruptly and spoiling the story. Papa tries Little Red Riding Hood and Chicken Little, and even though Chicken promises she will be good, she still interrupts the story. She's not even tired, but Papa is all out of stories. So Chicken reads to her Papa, but is soon interrupted by a loud "zzzzzzz."

This is a fun story! The title immediately caught my eye, as well as the cover illustration. You see Papa and Chicken behind a big picture book; Chicken looks rather fiesty, jumping up, while Papa looks like he's had enough. Chicken says "This book is called Interrupting Chicken, right, Papa?" and he replies, "Yes. Now, please don't interrupt the story!" Right away, you are prepared for what is going to happen in this book. I love this touch! The illustrations are wonderful; towards the end, papa has an expression of complete exasperation and chicken is looking like she knows best, which is why she interrupts. This is a perfect bedtime story that will elicit chuckles from adults and children. Now kids, try not to interrupt while your grown up is reading. :)