They’re darling. They’re daring. They know their shapes! They’re chicks on a mission—and on this, their first (mis)adventure, the Chicken Squad launches a galactic backyard expedition.
Meet the Chicken Squad: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie. These chicks are not your typical barnyard puffs of fluff, and they arenot about to spend their days pecking chicken feed and chasing bugs. No sir, they’re too busy solving mysteries and fighting crime.
So when Squirrel comes barreling into the chicken coop, the chicks know they’re about to get a case. But with his poor knowledge of shapes (“Big” is not a shape, Squirrel!) and utter fear of whatever it is that’s out there, the panicky Squirrel is NO HELP. Good thing these chicks are professionals.
But even professionals get worried. Especially once they see that round, shiny, green, BIG thing in the yard. What if it’s a UFO full of aliens who want chickens as pets? It’s up to the Chicken Squad to crack a case that just might be out of this world.
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful.
Those Crazy Chickens
By Sara J. Kovach
What a fun, creative book. This is a spin-off from Cronin's J.J. Tulley Mysteries. The chickens now have their own stories, although J.J. is still a integral part - retired, and their protector.Doreen Cronin is very well known for her silly animal stories - many of which I have in my classroom library. In The Chicken Squad, Cronin once again has managed to pack so much within a story. There is humor, a familiar dog, a "big and scary" mystery, very charismatic and personable chicks, and even a little geometry.This book is an excellent beginning chapter book. It is easy to follow. Readers are immediately introduced to the characters and quickly drawn into a humorous mystery. Children will be easily attracted to the ridiculous interactions and situations. the vocabulary is pretty simple, and there is enough repetition that will make it easy for a struggling reader to catch on. The pattern and structure of the text lend itself for a perfect read-aloud book. It would be a story that children would not want to put down, but continue to read or listen to.As a third grade teacher, I see this as a book I want to have in my classroom. I am always looking for good chapter books - especially ones that my lower readers will be able to pick up and read independently. This will be a book that my children will read and eagerly share with others.I see this book later becoming a children's animated cartoon. I think the writing, the characters, as well as the cute illustrations have already allowed me to create an animated cartoon in my mind.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful.My Daughter (6 Years Old) Gobbled This Up
By S. Colebank
My daughter loves to read, but finding books with themes that fit her age but with a length that goes beyond what most children her age read at is always a challenge. This book was a perfect fit. She laughed at it and loved it. She hates mysteries (too scary or too confusing--remember, she's six!), but this one with the Scaredy Squirrel was right up her alley.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful.A delightful romp
By Andorrac
A delightful romp, introduced by the family dog. The story takes place in a backyard and a small chicken coop, and involves infant chicken detectives who act like a cross between Chicken Little and Huey Dewey and Louie of Donald Duck fame.Early readers will be carried along by the humorous illustrations, but this would also be great for sharing out loud because there is some tongue-in-cheek humor that makes it worthwhile for grownups (or older children) too.Yes, we are laughing AT the silly chickens, a little, but we can blame the put-down humor on the dog, who, having been born a dog rather than a chicken, feels entitled to take a superior attitude. A good starting point for family discussion: Is it okay to be a little kid, and find out that you're terribly wrong? Is it okay to laugh at little kids who...?
