Bibliography: Auch, Mary Jane and Herm Auch. 2005. CHICKERELLA. New York: Holiday House. ISBN 978-0823420155.
Plot Summary:
Chickerella’s chickhood is torn apart when her mother dies and her father brings a new hen to the coop. The stepmother sends father off on a wild goose chase so that she can banish Chickerella to the springhouse and force her to cook, clean, and make beautiful dresses for her daughters, Ovumelda and Cholestera. With little to eat and drink, Chickerella is forced to drink the water springing up from the floor causing her eggs to become pure glass. News of the prince looking for a wife spreads fast. Chickerella must dress her stepsisters, but is not allowed to go herself. Her Fairy Goosemother shows just in time. Chickerella attends the ball, but as the clock strikes twelve, she flees leaving behind only a glass egg. When the prince finds her, they start a fashion line with the Fairy Goosemother.
Plot Summary:
Chickerella’s chickhood is torn apart when her mother dies and her father brings a new hen to the coop. The stepmother sends father off on a wild goose chase so that she can banish Chickerella to the springhouse and force her to cook, clean, and make beautiful dresses for her daughters, Ovumelda and Cholestera. With little to eat and drink, Chickerella is forced to drink the water springing up from the floor causing her eggs to become pure glass. News of the prince looking for a wife spreads fast. Chickerella must dress her stepsisters, but is not allowed to go herself. Her Fairy Goosemother shows just in time. Chickerella attends the ball, but as the clock strikes twelve, she flees leaving behind only a glass egg. When the prince finds her, they start a fashion line with the Fairy Goosemother.
Critical Analysis
This humorous fractured fairytale is told with lots of puns and new lessons. The story follows the basic storyline of the traditional story, but with a twist. First, the Fairy Goosemother is not the “let me fix everything for you” type, but instead tells Chickerella, “Don’t wait for someone else to fix things dearie. You take charge.” And instead of marrying her prince and living happily ever after, Chickerella creates a new business with her prince using her talents as a seamstress. This new twist will delight children and meet with parents modern tastes.
The art work is different; fitting to the twisted version of the story. The authors worked together crafting the characters and scenes, taking photographs, and manipulating the files on the computer. The attention paid to the details is apparent in each scene. The fashions and accessories used to dress these characters are fascinating. The shoes alone make these pictures an “eggstravaganza” worth viewing.”
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s):
Not an award winner.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “…punchy story line.”
BOOKLIST review: “…worth the price of admission.”
BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS review: “…unique in a number of ways...all of them welcome.”
Connections:
*Chickerella can be used in a lesson comparing variations of Cinderella stories.
*Can be used in discussion on different mediums of art and author/illustrator’s style.
Other books with chickens as the characters and books by the author team:
Himmelman, John. CHICKENS TO THE RESCUE ISBN. 978-0805079517
Helakoski, Leslie. BIG CHICKENS. ISBN 978-0142410578
Auch, Mary Jane and Herm Auch. THE PLOT CHICKENS. ISBN 978-0823420872
Auch, Mary Jane and Herm Auch. SOUPERCHICKEN. ISBN 978-0823418299
This humorous fractured fairytale is told with lots of puns and new lessons. The story follows the basic storyline of the traditional story, but with a twist. First, the Fairy Goosemother is not the “let me fix everything for you” type, but instead tells Chickerella, “Don’t wait for someone else to fix things dearie. You take charge.” And instead of marrying her prince and living happily ever after, Chickerella creates a new business with her prince using her talents as a seamstress. This new twist will delight children and meet with parents modern tastes.
The art work is different; fitting to the twisted version of the story. The authors worked together crafting the characters and scenes, taking photographs, and manipulating the files on the computer. The attention paid to the details is apparent in each scene. The fashions and accessories used to dress these characters are fascinating. The shoes alone make these pictures an “eggstravaganza” worth viewing.”
Awards Won And Reviewed Excerpt(s):
Not an award winner.
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “…punchy story line.”
BOOKLIST review: “…worth the price of admission.”
BEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS review: “…unique in a number of ways...all of them welcome.”
Connections:
*Chickerella can be used in a lesson comparing variations of Cinderella stories.
*Can be used in discussion on different mediums of art and author/illustrator’s style.
Other books with chickens as the characters and books by the author team:
Himmelman, John. CHICKENS TO THE RESCUE ISBN. 978-0805079517
Helakoski, Leslie. BIG CHICKENS. ISBN 978-0142410578
Auch, Mary Jane and Herm Auch. THE PLOT CHICKENS. ISBN 978-0823420872
Auch, Mary Jane and Herm Auch. SOUPERCHICKEN. ISBN 978-0823418299
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