Review - Blue Chicken

Blue Chicken
by Deborah Freedman
illustrated by Deborah Freedman
Date: 2011
Publisher: Viking Children's Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: We Give Books

In this deceptively simple picture book, author-illustrator Deborah Freedman has created an irresistible character that springs to life and wreaks havoc in a farmyard with a pot of blue paint. The innocent chicken just wants to help, but things get worse and worse -- and bluer and bluer -- the more she tries. Playing with colors and perspective, and using minimal text, this richly layered story reveals new things to see and laugh about with each reading.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Sometimes I'm just in the mood for reading picture books.  There are some great ones out there, some with awesome stories, others with amazing art (and some with both, of course).  I stumbled across this book as a link for the We Give Books program; if you read this book online, you'll have an opportunity to give a book to children in need.  What a neat idea!

I wasn't expecting much from this short little book, but I was pleasantly surprised.  The premise is simple, but the illustrations really bring the story to life.  Can the chicken fix the blue mess she's created?  You'll have to read the book to find out.  (It's only 40 pages, with very little text, so it won't take you very long... unless you get sucked into poring over the cute illustrations!)

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.4 out of 5