The Plot Chickens

This hilarious picture book, which offers an egg-cellent overview of the creative writing process for anyone who's ever wanted to peck out a story, brings back the beloved protagonist of Souperchicken.

Henrietta loves to read so much she decides to write a book of her own. With the help of her three old aunties, she hatches a plot, gives her character lots of problems, and writes what she knows. But when Henrietta publishes her story, the Corn Book review says she's laid an egg! Is this the end of Henrietta's career as an author?

The illustrations, a combination of oil paints and digital technology, are bold and colorful. The pictures are busy, with Henrietta at her typewriter while her friends cavort around her. There are imagined scenes in cloud shapes, word balloons, and jokes aplenty. A droll chicken with a repeating line adds to the humor. This offering works on two levels. It’s a funny picture book that could be used as a manual on writing. -- School Library Journal