Sunday, October 14, 2018

Two delightful children's picture books from Candlewick Press: Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise & Do You Believe in Unicorns? [Review & Giveaway-US/CANADA]

Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise (Interrupting Chicken #2) by David Ezra Stein

ISBN: 9780763688424
Hardcover $16.99 US
Candlewick Press

My thoughts:  I haven't seen book #1 featuring Interrupting Chicken but from the looks of #2, I'd say it was a real cute one. Now book  #2 - Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise features a young chicken that comes home from school and he and his papa  get into a discussion about the surprise of the story.

Little chicken says there is an Elephant in the story and Papa says the word is not a real elephant but an element of surprise - or a bit of surprise in the story and that is called an "element of surprise."

But there is no convincing Little Chicken that the Elephant is not there, too.

Illustrations are vividly drawn capturing the essence of this delightful read for youngsters. And really was there an elephant hiding in the pages? Check it out to find out.

About the book: Surprise! The little red chicken is back -- and as endearingly silly as ever -- in David Ezra Stein's follow-up to the Caldecott Honor-winning Interrupting Chicken.

It's homework time for the little red chicken, who has just learned about something every good story should have: an elephant of surprise. Or could it be an element of surprise (as her amused papa explains)? As they dive in to story after story, looking for the part that makes a reader say "Whoa! I didn't know that was going to happen," Papa is sure he can convince Chicken he's right. After all, there are definitely no elephants in "The Ugly Duckling," "Rapunzel," or "The Little Mermaid" -- or are there? Elephant or element, something unexpected awaits Papa in every story, but a surprise may be in store for the little red chicken as well. Full of the same boisterous charm that made Interrupting Chicken so beloved by readers, this gleeful follow-up is sure to delight fans of stories, surprises, and elephants alike.


Do You Believe in Unicorns? by Bethanie Deeney Murguia 


ISBN: 9780763694685
Hardcover $14.99 US
Candlewick Press

My thoughts:  We never find out if the horse in the red hat is a horse or a unicorn that is hiding his horn. But what does it matter?

A cute read that handles our personal mindset that we have something about us that we wish we could hide but should we really hide our blotches and "horns"?

When the hat comes off, we still can't tell if the critter is a horse or a unicorn because he blends nicely into the pictures and we can "believe" he is a unicorn, or we can believe he is a horse. But do you believe in unicorns - really believe? That is up to the individual.

We can believe we have special attributes and features and hide them, or we can believe we have special attributes and show the world what we are.

A hidden meaning? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is just a cute story with really cute artwork. Be sure you check this one out at the library or find it on your bookseller's shelf.

About the book: Is believing in magic the key to seeing a unicorn? If you keep your eyes open to wonder, the possibilities are endless.

Is that a horse wearing a hat? It's definitely not a unicorn in disguise -- that would be ridiculous, right? It's probably just a horse that's having a bad hair day. Or trying to keep the sun out of its eyes. Or perhaps this horse just really likes hats! If you follow it long enough, maybe it will take off its hat and you'll finally know for sure. Or will you? It's all a matter of perspective in this cheerful, cheeky story about seeing magic in the everyday.
GIVEAWAY
2 winners - 2 books each
Begins October 14
Ends November 6 at 12:01 a.m. EDT
Open to USA and CANADA addresses
NO P.O. Boxes, please
DISCLOSURE: I was provided copies of each book to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone and are freely given.

15 comments:

  1. "(1) One other picture book you would like to have." "There's a Dinosaur On the 13th Floor."

    "(2) One picture book you would like reviewed here on Chat With Vera." "Historium."

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd like to have A Visitor for Bear. I'd like to read your review of What-the-Dickens The Story of a Rogue Tooth Fairy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would like to get and see your review for Imagine.

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  4. thank you for sharing. Would love to win.

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  5. I would love to read A Is for Australian Animals and have it reviewed on here.

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  6. Maisy's House love to have this book. Love to see a review of Here I Am!: A Finger Puppet Book
    A Guess How Much I Love You Book
    author: Sam McBratney
    illustrator: Anita Jeram

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would like to have The Princess In Black and would love to read a review of Sam and Dave Dig a Hole.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cic408 - You can search my blog and find my review of SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE. I reviewed it awhile back and it is excellent. Subtle humor. Fun art.

      Delete
  8. 1. I'd like to have Maisy's House.

    2. I'd like to see you review Here I Am: A Finger Puppet Book.

    Nancy
    allibrary (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  9. 1. I would like to have Builders & Breakers.
    2. I would like to see a review of Fox Explores the Night.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jana - Watch because I will be reviewing BUILDERS & BREAKERS soon. Hosting a giveaway, too, probably.

      Delete
  10. I would like Get Out of My Bath because it looks funny, and a review of Magnificent Birds, if it hasn't been done already.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Katrina Weiss - I reviewed Magnificent Birds awhile back. Perhaps you'd like to read my review. https://chatwithvera.blogspot.com/2018/08/magnificent-birds-by-candlewick-press.html

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  12. I've heard such great things about Interrupting Chicken! Thanks for sharing at Booknificent Thursday on Mommynificent.com!
    Tina

    ReplyDelete
  13. 1) There's a Dinosaur on the 13th Floor
    2) The turnaway girls

    ReplyDelete

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