December 5, 2022
In this sprawling inaugural graphic novel by Stein (Don’t Worry, Murray), which kicks off with a dramatis personae, readers meet the eponymous, clucking, human-size chicken, who’s the boon companion of a successful inventor. But the friendship falters when the inventor discounts both Beaky’s chickenhood (“She’s never laid an egg in her life”) and her autonomy (the inventor’s next big idea: a chicken pedicab, pulled by none other than Beaky). When Beaky suddenly lays an egg just as a nearby chef hunts for one, her course becomes clear: go on the lam, reunite with the egg’s father, and hatch that chick. Numerous subplots unspool, including one devoted to a fish’s college dreams (“I’ve got big plans for the future and being grilled isn’t one of them”) and another following a dedicated health and safety inspector who nearly stumbles onto a kitchen-based animal haven. Throughout, the action is regularly interrupted by commercials pushing products, including barrels for people who have lost their clothes (“Abashed by your sudden nudity?”). In inky cartoon panels that cross the narrative irreverence of the Marx Brothers with the breakneck silliness of French farce, Stein’s story affirms the folly of pigeonholing anyone—even a very big chicken. Human characters are portrayed with light skin. Ages 6–9. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.
January 1, 2023
Gr 3-6-In Caldecott Honoree Stein's graphic novel debut, readers are invited to join the residents of Simpleton for a wild chicken chase. Readers are initially introduced to the routine-oriented Town Inspector Cobb as he prepares to enjoy his daily lunch of an egg sandwich; however, things go awry immediately after the egg absconds from the confines of the bread. Cobb bolts to the town caf� to find a replacement, before learning that they are out of eggs. The chef, meanwhile, instantly closes shop to avoid a surprise inspection and sets out to find an egg for the inspector. Filled with despair, the chef is ready to give up when along strolls the chicken Beaky Barnes and her friend, headed right for the caf�. Subsequent spreads depict increasingly hilarious high jinks that ultimately culminate in a delightful conclusion that includes a trumpet-playing fish, a hardworking elephant, the chef enjoying a new role in life, and countless great ideas from the mind of Beaky Barnes, to name but a few features. Stein's signature watercolor and ink illustrations burst with humor and action on every spread, coupled flawlessly with clever wordplay and amusing dialogue. VERDICT Readers will be eager for more of Beaky's adventures. Highly recommended for purchase.-Olivia Gorecke
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2023
How can a single egg lead to a whole town in chaos? Stein's offbeat early graphic novel full of slapstick comedy explores just how much trouble an egg can cause. An uptight food inspector, a chef with something to hide, a fish, and an inventor and her friend (a human-sized chicken named Beaky) are the main players in this silly, pun-filled romp. When the fried egg falls out of the inspector's sandwich, it sets off an improbable series of events that ends with the chicken (in disguise) protecting her only egg from the inspector, who has lost all his clothes and is wearing a barrel. The plot twists and turns through a series of shenanigans, including regular commercial breaks for important messages from our sponsors about the inventor's latest inventions. Stein's recognizable illustration style (e.g., the Interrupting Chicken books) of sketchy pen drawings with watercolor adds even more humor to the goofy goings-on, giving the story the feel and comic beats of a Buster Keaton movie. Readers will find new gags to giggle at with repeat viewings and will look forward to future comic encounters with Beaky and friends. Laura Koenig
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
Starred review from November 15, 2022
A human-sized chicken leads the residents of a tiny town on a wild hen chase in Caldecott Honor winner Stein's pleasantly peculiar debut graphic novel. A boring day in Simpleton goes haywire after a fried egg liberates itself from the sandwich of Inspector Cobb, the hamlet's chief health and safety officer. Cobb races on his bicycle to the town cafe only to learn that there are no eggs today, which does nothing to improve his steadily souring mood. Closing up shop to avoid a surprise inspection (and have his many pets and elephant fry cook discovered), the chef rushes out to the mini-mart only to find the egg shortage is townwide. All seems lost until an enormous chicken, the titular Beaky Barnes, crosses the road with her friend the Inventor to get to the cafe on the other side. Giddy with egg-citement, the chef hustles back to greet the gals, grab their orders, and hopefully somehow get an egg in the end. What follows is truly a madcap adventure connecting a trumpet-playing fish with collegiate dreams, an elephant with a broken heart and a squished bike, a rooster acting his heart out, and, yes, even an egg, all woven together in a brilliant, bizarre ballet that is equal parts goofy and genius. Stein's instantly recognizable illustrations, rendered in ballpoint pen and digitally enhanced watercolor, are alive with color and action, bringing this dramedy to its satisfying conclusion. Readers will be pleased to know this is not the last they'll see of Beaky Barnes. Human characters are light-skinned. Pure egg-cellence. (Graphic fiction. 8-10)
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January 1, 2023
How can a single egg lead to a whole town in chaos? Stein's offbeat early graphic novel full of slapstick comedy explores just how much trouble an egg can cause. An uptight food inspector, a chef with something to hide, a fish, and an inventor and her friend (a human-sized chicken named Beaky) are the main players in this silly, pun-filled romp. When the fried egg falls out of the inspector's sandwich, it sets off an improbable series of events that ends with the chicken (in disguise) protecting her only egg from the inspector, who has lost all his clothes and is wearing a barrel. The plot twists and turns through a series of shenanigans, including regular commercial breaks for important messages from our sponsors about the inventor's latest inventions. Stein's recognizable illustration style (e.g., the Interrupting Chicken books) of sketchy pen drawings with watercolor adds even more humor to the goofy goings-on, giving the story the feel and comic beats of a Buster Keaton movie. Readers will find new gags to giggle at with repeat viewings and will look forward to future comic encounters with Beaky and friends.
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)