Cranky Chicken: Party animals by Katherine Battersby

This, the second in the Cranky Chicken series, is perfect for fans of The Super Adventures of Ollie and Bea and Duck, Duck, Porcupine. The layouts are fluid and varied and the book is split into three short, illustrated chapters: Hungry, Hangry Chicken; The Unsurprising Party; and Best Beach Buds. Between the chapters and interspersed within are fun 'brain break' sections, e.g., 'Things That Make Chicken Cranky' and 'Why Buses Make Chicken Cranky'. The story consists mostly of the witty dialogue between the two friends, Chicken and Worm. In the first chapter, Chicken is hungry and Worm wants to help. But Chicken is incredibly fussy. Could it be because it is his birthday but he doesn't want to say? The second chapter is about Worm figuring out the perfect unsuprising party for Chicken and the final chapter sees Worm take Chicken on a beach outing despite Chicken's reservations. Worm is a wonderfully loyal friend and Chicken, while grumpy, is an appreciative friend and a good communicator. He knows what he likes and what he doesn't and isn't afraid to speak up. Worm is relentless and cheery but has gentle ways to coax Chicken out of his comfort zone and uses humour to help him in tricky situations.

This is a beautiful, warm series with subtle undertones about empathy, what it means to be a friend and how people with differing worldviews to your own can be the best friends. The illustrations are simple, funny and complementary to the text. This is a wonderful series for early readers but will be enjoyed by all.

Themes: Humorous Stories, Graphic Novel, Friendship.

Nicole Nelson