Review by Booklist Review
Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson have a big house with a teeny-tiny yard in a big honking city. They also have pets, including a sensible number of chickens. Soon, however, the egg-laying begins, and 3 chickens become 456. And they are everywhere--in the shower, on the breakfast table, inside a pair of boots--and worst of all: they sing. Finally, the men take the noisy chickens to sell at the county fair, but soon calamity strikes and the chickens run amok--until a perfect solution arises. This silly story is fun with nice moments of repetitive and interactive text, but by far the best part about the book is the omnipresence of thoughtful and intentional diverse representation. Mr. Nelson and Mr. Watson are a biracial gay couple with a loving and supportive partnership, and there is a broadly multiethnic supporting cast; but if you squint even further, there is additional detailed layering of diversity in body type, age, mobility, and gender throughout the book, serving as a subtle but constant stream of acceptance and representation.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Animals creating mayhem deliver rousing readalouds, and Dapier (Jazz for Lunch!) and Tsurumi (I'm on It!) here drive this story element to its riotous extreme. Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson share a lime green "big, honking house with a teeny tiny yard in a big, honking city." Mr. Watson, who reads as white, keeps animals, and East Asian--appearing Mr. Nelson does the cooking. But when Mr. Watson's trio of chickens somehow rockets to 456, the flock takes over the household. Tsurumi conveys the chaos with several densely populated spreads featuring hundreds of chickens rehearsing dance routines, playing dress-up, and swinging from the chandeliers; meticulous draftsmanship makes the wonderfully frenetic activity both clear and absorbing. When red hen Aunt Agnes's incessantly repeated song ("Shooby-doo,/ wonky-pow,/ bawka-bawka/ in da chow-chow") starts to get under Mr. Nelson's skin, Mr. Watson is oblivious. Behind the lively comedy, there's a romantic relationship in trouble, until a tender embrace reveals that "Mr. Watson loved his chickens, but he loved Mr. Nelson more." Subtle background portraits of Tove Jansson as well as Frog and Toad gently hint at the history of queer creators in children's literature, while the carousing chickens draw most of the attention--and all of the laughs. Ages 3--5. Author's agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties. Illustrator's agent: Stephen Barr, Writers House. (Oct.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1--3--Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson fill their "big, honking house" with love and animals--especially chickens. When their "handful" of chickens quickly balloons to over 400, things become challenging for everyone involved. With chickens in their dinner, in the bathtub, and in Mr. Nelson's boots, they have finally become too much. It is time for the chickens to find a new home. But what will Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson's house be like once all the chaos is removed? Animal lovers and empty nesters will appreciate the delightful antics within this story. Short, accessible text makes this book enjoyable for young readers, especially as a lap read. Comical illustrations, including cross-sections to show the chaos inside the home, depict the many hundreds of chickens playing instruments and causing all manner of ruckus. Mr. Watson, who is white with brown hair, and Mr. Nelson, who has black hair and presents as Asian, are a couple, interacting in loving ways even when the chickens overstep their bounds and make life difficult for them. Light, pastel shades are used throughout the story, and one picture in particular is reminiscent of Where's Waldo, inviting readers to look more closely to find the missing element. Readers who are patient enough to examine the illustrations carefully will be rewarded with surprising and humorous moments outside the primary narrative. VERDICT This book suits early elementary school-aged readers and is an inclusive and humorous look at what happens when life becomes overwhelming and requires a reset.--Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
When Mr. Watson returns home one day to the house he shares with Mr. Nelson, two dogs, and three cats, he adds three chickens to the new coop in the backyard. But when three chickens grow to four hundred and fifty-six, and with the inside of their house "teeming with birds," it eventually causes relationship issues for the couple. "Mr. Watson loved his chickens, but he loved Mr. Nelson more," so they take all the hens to the county fair, where more chaos ensues. In a tidy resolution, the chickens embark on a show-business career, and back at home Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson are now sad empty-nesters...or are they? Dapier's matter-of-fact text contains plenty of helpful repetition -- including counting ("1-2-3") and chicken Aunt Agnes's song ("Shooby-doo, wonky-pow, bawka-bawka in da chow-chow") -- making this a great read-aloud, but it may be best shared one-on-one given Tsurumi's highly detailed digital art. The seek-and-find nature encourages readers to pore over each humorous illustration, spotting chickens playing musical instruments, roasting s'mores, and using aerial silks -- all on the same page. Tsurumi keeps the mayhem from becoming overwhelming via black outlines and flat coloring, plus the occasional speech bubble for emphasis. The subtle references in the art to well-known gay children's book creators (Arnold Lobel, James Marshall) reinforce the book's casual embrace of a same-sex couple -- who hopefully won't end up with quite so many chickens next time. Cynthia K. Ritter January/February 2022 p.80(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ain't nobody here but us chickens. (Oh, and Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson, too.) Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson, a queer couple who live in a "big, honking house with a teeny-tiny yard in a big, honking city" with Mr. Watson's 456 chickens, have a problem. No, it's not stains on the furniture (although that might be problem)--it's the noise of the chickens, led by brown hen Aunt Agnes and her song: "Shooby-doo, wonky-pow, bawka-bawka in da chow-chow." It's a song she sings constantly, and it's driving a wedge between Messrs. Watson and Nelson. The solution--crating up the chickens to find them new homes at the county fair--stumbles (literally) when Mr. Watson trips on a ball and the chickens get loose, disappearing into the fair. The story is amusing if on the twee side. Frequent repeated phrases will assist skilled storytellers in performing the tale effectively, although the detailed, chicken-filled illustrations will make the book difficult to use with large groups. Chicken-loving lapsitters, however, will find much to look at. Whatever the setting, adults sharing this should be prepared to engage with the difficult and not-so-subtle message that pets are easily disposed of once their novelty has worn off. Mr. Watson present White, and Mr. Nelson presents Asian. (This book was reviewed digitally.) This egg is cracked. (Picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
