Bibliography: Jane, Mary, & Auch, Herm (2009). The Plot Chickens. New York, NY: Holiday House.
I really enjoyed this book. I can relate to it. I have been unsuccessfully, trying to find a publisher for my short stories. It hasn't stopped me from writing, but I actually cried a bit when Henrietta got a bad review. The illustrations are beautifully done. I also liked how they show some of the processes that are done in making a book, so not only do you get a good story but you learn a bit about book making including how the colors are mixed to create the pictures. The story moves well, and is a bit like a comic book. Which to me adds a bit to the story, by putting focus on the characters and dialogue.
Reviews: School Library Journal
( March 01, 2009 )
K-Gr 2-Henrietta the chicken, star of Souperchicken (Holiday House, 2003), is an avid library user and decides that because reading is so much fun, "writing books must be eggshilarating." She finds a manual of writing rules and creates her own story-with the unsolicited help of the other fowl. When it is rejected by a publisher, Henrietta decides to self-publish. She takes a copy to her librarian, who tells her to send it to The Corn Book Magazine for review. Henrietta gets another rejection: "odoriferous." Then she wanders into the library at storytime and sees that her book was chosen best of the year by the children. Henrietta is asked to read it aloud. "She read with dramatic expression. Of course, all the children heard was BUK, BUK, BUK.." The illustrations, a combination of oil paints and digital technology, are bold and colorful. The pictures are busy, with Henrietta at her typewriter while her friends cavort around her. There are imagined scenes in cloud shapes, word balloons, and jokes aplenty. A droll chicken with a repeating line adds to the humor. This offering works on two levels. It's a funny picture book that could be used as a manual on writing.-Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.
Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature)
Henrietta, the hen star of Souperchicken, returns in another pun- and fun-filled story. The book-loving chicken is in �eggstasy� reading books from the library by herself and aloud to her aunts. She decides that writing books must be �eggshilerating.� She begins following the rules in a book about how to write by starting her story about an imaginary character named Maxine. Busy at her �Hunt & Peck� typewriter, glasses perched on beak, with input from her fellow chicks, she then works at developing her plot, writing �what you know,� building suspense, and using all five senses. She follows the final rule: �the main character must solve her (or his) own problem.� When a publisher rejects her story, she publishes it herself. She is delighted to have her book voted �best book of the year� by the local children in their story hour. Henrietta and her lively anthropomorphic friends help the tale along with speech balloons that are often illustrated with alternate plot possibilities, creating a book within a book. Several pages show the book being produced. But it is all high comedy, starring a most delightful fowl created with oil paints and computer manipulation. Along with the fun, however, are good rules for aspiring young authors to follow. 2009, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8.
Laura Baker (Heart of Texas Reviews (Vol. 22, No. 1))
Henrietta the hen loves books. If reading is so enjoyable, she reasons, writing must also be fun. She checks out a library book on how to write and crafts her story according to the rules. Creating a main character, developing a plot, formulating conflict by asking �what if� questions, incorporating her own experiences, and involving the senses are all suggestions that she takes to heart. When her story is rejected by the publishers, Henrietta self-publishes. Her story doesn�t receive the most positive professional reviews, but the kids at the local library love it. Maybe the writing effort was worthwhile after all. As on overview of the writing process, this book can only give a surface treatment. It does do a fair job of offering basic fiction writing tips. One of the best features is how readers see the way Henrietta changes her story to incorporate writing pointers. When she needs to create a character who reflects what she knows, Henrietta writes about a hen. At the suggestion that she incorporate all the senses in her descriptions, she livens up her sentences by saying what the character sees and feels and hears when she goes for a walk. Readers get concrete examples of what the writing tips mean and can see how they improve Henrietta�s story. The Auchs are known for writing books that are parodies of other situations, and this tale is no exception. It is full of quips, word plays, and visual jokes that inject humor into what could be a dry subject. Adults may chuckle at the cleverness, but some of the jokes will be beyond what the typical young reader will understand. The drawings and light-hearted fiction that Henrietta writes, however, will clue them in that this is a fun book. Books about writing and publishing are scarce for this age group it seems, so this title fills a need. It would make a good introduction to a writing exercise where children modify their own stories like Henrietta does and then present the results to others for review or for reading out loud. It might be just the thing needed to encourage a would-be author to pick up the pen. Fiction. Grades 3-5. 2009, Holiday House, Unpaged., $16.95. Ages 8 to 11.
Pat Koontz (Kutztown University Book Review, Fall 2009)
Henrietta the chicken decides to write her own story. She follows the steps she knows about good writing. She finds an interesting main character, hatches a plot, builds suspense, and uses all five senses to develop her story. She runs into problems when she tries to get her story published. Her solution to this problem is creative and fun. Category: Picture Book.. 2009, Holiday House, $16.95. Ages 5 to 9.
This could be used in a school library setting in conjunction with a lesson being taught about the elements needed to write a good story.
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