The Great Mathemachicken 1: Hide and Go Beak

by Nancy Krulik, Charlie Alder (Illustrator)

Overview

Available in paperback! A young chapter book series starter about a chicken who loves math, science, and learning new things—by New York Times bestselling author Nancy Krulik. Perfect for fans of Unlimited Squirrels and Bumble and Bee.

Chirpy is a young chicken stuck in the family coop. But she's not like the other chickens who just sit around peck peck pecking all day. She's intrigued by the children who come home from a place called school. They always look so happy! (Well, most days.)

So Chirpy sneaks onto the bus one morning, hides in the classroom . . . and discovers a true love of math. When she shares what she's learned with the other chickens, they think she's one kernel short of a cob.

Even so, Chirpy is determined to find a formula for fowl success by pecking away. But when a hungry fox tries to attack the coop, can she find the equation for a simple solution?

With lively two-color art throughout, plus a fun hands-on simple machine activity, this eggs-ellent young chapter book series starter is a Grade-A pick to get emerging readers eggs-ited about science and math.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781645952367
Publisher:	Holiday House
Publication date:	03/12/2024
Series:	The Great Mathemachicken , #2
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	6.01(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.32(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Nancy Krulik is the author of more than 200 books for children and young adults, three of them New York Times bestsellers. Her series, including How I Survived Middle School, Katie Kazoo Switcheroo, George Brown Class Clown, Magic Bone, Project Droid, Princess Pulverizer, and Ms. Frogbottom's Field Trips are beloved around the world.

Nancy lives in Manhattan with her husband, composer Daniel Burwasser. Visit her online at www.realnancykrulik.com.

Charlie Alder has written and illustrated many books for children, including Daredevil Duck and Chicken Break! She lives in Devon, England, with her husband and son. When not drawing chickens, Charlie can be found in her studio drinking coffee, arranging her crayons, and inventing more accidental animal heroes.

Visit her online at www.charliealder.com.

Editorial Reviews

"This STEM series debut for newly independent readers provides a light but engaging look at simple machines."—School Library Journal

"[A] smart, sprightly chapter book series starter. . . . Short, dialogue-driven paragraphs by Krulik (the Princess Pulverizer series) are peppered with 'eggs-tra' humor and chicken wordplay . . . while Alder’s (Doggo and Pupper) cartoon spot illustrations, rendered in tones of yellow, gray, and black, provide plenty of visual characterization"—Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

11/08/2021

In 11 chapters, this smart, sprightly chapter book series starter stars a chick named Chirpy, whose number-patterned bow is an immediate tip-off that the coop can’t contain her STEM curiosity. Interested in why things fall and frustrated with her less intellectually rigorous friends, she stows away on a school bus and spends the day in the classroom of Mrs. Zoober, who’s teaching how simple machines leverage the power of gravity. This knowledge comes in handy when Chirpy returns home (they don’t serve chicken feed in the school lunchroom) and discovers that sibling Clucky may be in the clutches of a hungry fox. Rallying her fearful family and friends (“You can’t all be scared,” Chirpy tells her trembling family; “Why do you think they call us chickens?” is the reply), she builds a fox trap that’s equal parts engineering science and Rube Goldberg machine. Short, dialogue-driven paragraphs by Krulik (the Princess Pulverizer series) are peppered with “eggs-tra” humor and chicken wordplay (one of Chirpy’s mother’s friends is named Princess Lay-a), while Alder’s (Doggo and Pupper) cartoon spot illustrations, rendered in tones of yellow, gray, and black, provide plenty of visual characterization. Ages 5–8. Author’s agent: Kenneth Weinrib, Franklin, Weinrib, Rudell & Vassallo. Illustrator’s agent: Anne Moore Armstrong, the Bright Agency. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

01/01/2022

K-Gr 3—A curious young chick named Chirpy sneaks into school, where she learns about simple machines and counting strategies. When a fox threatens her community, Chirpy employs her newfound STEM skills to design a gentle trap using playground equipment including a swing, slide, and seesaw. She cajoles her reluctant chicken friends and family to join the effort. Told in 11 short chapters, the mostly one- and two-syllable word vocabulary includes some pithy one-liners with terms like "eggs-ploding" and "peck-uliar." Cartoon drawings in black, white, and yellow provide visual clues that help readers interpret the text, with brush strokes conveying a range of character emotions. A number of topics are touched on including gravity, force, and skip counting. Chirpy's invention demonstrates how simple machines can be used to create more complex ones; in this case a trap to catch a fox, who looks more like a house cat than a fierce predator. An engaging full-spread diagram complete with arrows shows how the trap works, but it does leave some aspects unexplained. Labeling each playground item by function (pendulum, inclined plane, or lever) would have clarified and reinforced key concepts. End pages include instructions on how to build a rudimentary wheel-and-axle toy with adult assistance. VERDICT This STEM series debut for newly independent readers provides a light but engaging look at simple machines. For more detail, pair with David A. Adler's Simple Machines: Wheels, Levers, and Pulleys, or D.J. Ward's Simple Machines.—Jenny Andrus

School Library Journal