Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise

Starred review from July 23, 2018
In the eponymous Chicken’s post–Caldecott Honor book, she learns something new in school: “Every story has an elephant of surprise.” Papa—whose bright red crest and spade-shaped feet match Chicken’s—gently explains that it’s element, not elephant. To demonstrate, Papa reads “The Ugly Duckling.” The storybook open on Papa’s lap, Stein’s art transforms from the smudgy, warm tones of the cozy reading nook to a pastoral storybook scene rendered in pen and ink. As the Ugly Duckling is about to glimpse his reflection, a page turn introduces a blue elephant wearing wings: “Surprise! I’m an elephant!” The elephant returns in readings of “Rapunzel” (with thick braids) and “The Little Mermaid” (sporting a bikini). A final story—written by Papa and illustrated by Chicken—demonstrates that, despite Papa’s best efforts, the “elephant of surprise” is here to stay. Stein masterfully builds suspense with each imbedded story, for a gag that only gets more fun with each reveal. Ages 4–8.

July 15, 2018
A laugh-out-loud follow-up to Stein's 2011 Caldecott honoree, Interrupting Chicken.Little Chicken is back, and her metafictive editorial impulses are as strong as ever. After school, she tells Papa, "my teacher told us every story has an elephant of surprise." Papa corrects her, replying, "She was talking about an element of surprise," but Chicken is unconvinced and is determined to find surprising elephants in the stories she reads for homework with Papa. And find them she does in the books-within-the-book: The Ugly Duckling, Rapunzel, and The Little Mermaid. As in Interrupting Chicken, Stein changes styles to illustrate Chicken's books and then visually interrupts those scenes--this time not just with Chicken jumping into the books, but with her imagined elephant of surprise, too. He ratchets up the humor by depicting the small, blue, adorable elephant in costume for each story--feathered like a swan, wearing long braids and a dirndl, and finally in a grass skirt and coconut bra. More indulgent than exasperated, Papa determines to tell Chicken a story without elephants, and she illustrates it. She, of course, also interrupts it with an elephant of surprise. While the interrupting conceit is a bit less straightforward in this book than its predecessor, fans of the two loving characters will be delighted to see them again.Unsurprisingly good. (Picture book. 4-8)

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Starred review from July 1, 2018
Preschool-G *Starred Review* Chicken returns from school excited about her teacher's statement that every story has an elephant of surprise. Papa explains that the teacher meant an element of surprise . . . the part of the story that makes you say, ?Whoa! I didn't know that was going to happen.' As he reads her The Ugly Duckling, a page turn brings a plot twist: the previously avian, now pachydermian protagonist calls, SURPRISE! I'M AN ELEPHANT! Similarly, in Rapunzel and The Little Mermaid, the heroines turn into blue, golden-haired elephants. Even Papa's original story concludes, inevitably, with Chicken adding an elephant. Like its Caldecott Honor Book predecessor, The Interrupting Chicken (2010), this picture book portrays an affectionate but determined parent bested by his confident, creative offspring. Created with watercolor, water-soluble crayon, china marker, pen, opaque white ink, and tea, the illustrations capture various parts of the story in different styles. Stein contrasts the richly colored, comfortable scenes at home with the pale, restrained, traditional storybook illustrations, which are in turn jolted by the addition of the colorful, comical Elephant of Surprise and Chicken herself. Following the same basic structure as the original story, this sequel is fresh, funny, and satisfying in its own way. A treat for Interrupting Chicken fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2018
Chicken arrives home from school and tells Papa what she learned: Today my teachers told us every story has an elephant of surprise. When Papa attempts to correct her ( She was talking about an element of surprise ), Chicken charges ahead, looking for elephants in the storybooks she and Papa read together in their comfy armchair (The Ugly Duckling, Rapunzel, and The Little Mermaid). When those books' pages are repeatedly hijacked by bold, lush illustrations reflecting Chicken's imaginative, chaotic, and elephant-filled retellings, Papa decides to tell his own story?with no elephants. But Chicken, in charge of the art, finds a way to make her mark (and, unsurprisingly, her crayon drawings include a large number of elephants). Stein's mixed-media illustrations allow the narrative styles to bounce back and forth between silly and serious, showing both wacky and cozy moments and honoring the warm, loving relationship between Chicken and her caregiver. Like its Caldecott Honor-winning predecessor Interrupting Chicken, this story centers on one extended gag; but many will enjoy giggling at it again and again, likely with a grownup of their own. elisa gall

(Copyright 2018 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2019
After school, Chicken tells Papa: "Today my teacher told us every story has an elephant of surprise." Papa corrects Chicken ("an element of surprise"), but Chicken ignores him. The storybooks they read together are repeatedly hijacked by bold, lush illustrations reflecting Chicken's imaginative and elephant-filled retellings. Stein's mixed-media illustrations allow the narrative styles to bounce back and forth between silly and serious, honoring the warm, loving father-child relationship.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from September 1, 2018

PreS-Gr 2-The precocious Chicken and her papa are back in this sequel to Interrupting Chicken. Chicken has learned at school about the element of surprise in storytelling. She interprets this as the elephant of surprise. When Papa reads classic tales aloud to Chicken, she interrupts to point out the "whoa!" moment. The "whoa!" moment always includes an elephant interjected into the story. Papa decides to tell his own story, without elephants. Despite his efforts, an elephant ends up in his story, too. A mixture of watercolor, crayon, marker, pen, white ink and tea magically come together to create delightfully uncommon illustrations. Vibrant and warm colors bring Chicken and Papa to life. Spreads from the storybooks Papa reads aloud, including text and classic illustrations, immerse readers in the tale. The story page illustrations also include Chicken's artistic additions, drawn onto the page, of an adorable blue elephant complete with chat bubbles. When Papa makes up his own story, Chicken illustrates it for him. These illustrations again depict the story pages with Chicken's childlike drawings in crayon. The prose matches the vibrancy of the illustrations with humorous dialogue between Chicken and her patient Papa. VERDICT Multiple award-winning author and illustrator Stein has created a noteworthy title for library shelves in addition to his already beloved collection of picture books. A terrific choice for one-on-one and small group sharing.-Mindy Hiatt, Salt Lake County Library Services

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