The Trouble with Chickens (J.J. Tully Series #1)

by Doreen Cronin, Kevin Cornell (Illustrator)

Overview

From the bestselling, award-winning author-illustrator team of Doreen Cronin and Kevin Cornell comes the first book in a heavily illustrated, hilarious chapter book series about the adventures of a dog detective. Perfect for fans of Sara Pennypacker's Clementine series and Jarrett J. Krosoczka's Lunch Lady series. 

J.J. Tully is a former search-and-rescue dog who is trying to enjoy his retirement after years of performing daring missions saving lives. So he's not terribly impressed when two chicks named Dirt and Sugar (who look like popcorn on legs) and their chicken mom show up demanding his help to find their missing siblings. Driven by the promise of a cheeseburger, J.J. begins to track down clues. Is Vince the Funnel hiding something? Are there dark forces at work—or is J.J. not smelling the evidence that's right in front of him?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061215322
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/01/2011
Series:	J.J. Tully Series , #1
Pages:	119
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 7.80(h) x 0.80(d)
Lexile:	570L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Doreen Cronin is the New York Times bestselling author of Diary of a Worm, Diary of a Spider, and Diary of a Fly as well as Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, a Caldecott Honor Book, and Giggle, Giggle, Quack. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and their daughters.

Kevin Cornell rests his head in Philadelphia, where he and his wife match wits daily with a terrifying dachshund. Other monsters Kevin has recently tamed include The Terrible Two series by Mac Barnett and Jory John, Count the Monkeys by Mac Barnett, and Lulus Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst.

Editorial Reviews

Cronin, best known for her witty barnyard picture books, Click, Clack, Moo and its successors, brings her droll humor to the chapter book set with great success. After seven years as a search-and-rescue dog, J.J. Tully (possibly a German shepherd) has been rewarded with retirement in the country. Though he puts on airs, recalling "a parade in my honor after I pulled three tornado victims out from under a mountain of debris," he grudgingly agrees to help a mother hen find her two missing chicks (in exchange for a cheeseburger). Behind his hard-boiled persona, J.J. has some genuine detective smarts, but he faces a formidable foe in Vince the Funnel, the "inside" dog, who looks "like a cross between a dachshund and a lamp" (he's wearing a cone-shaped collar due to an ear infection). Fast-paced and funny, with interesting vocabulary and a well-constructed plot, this is terrific fare for readers who are ready to move beyond picture books, but are intimidated by longer works. Cornell's pencil drawings have a mix of energy and humor that adds to the fun. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Impeccable comedic timing.

Horn Book Magazine

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “Hits squarely on the middle-grade funnybone.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Like its predecessors, this diary is a crowd-pleaser.

ALA Booklist

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Teeming with funny vignettes.

New York Times

The noirlike detective Tully and the funny chickens running around, well, like chickens make appealing characters, especially as drawn by Cornell, who knows how to get TV cartoon–style humor out of the action.

Booklist

Cronin brings her droll humor to the chapter book set with great success. Fast-paced and funny, with interesting vocabulary and a well-constructed plot, this is terrific fare for readers who are ready to move beyond picture books, but are intimidated by longer works.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“The noirlike detective Tully and the funny chickens running around, well, like chickens make appealing characters, especially as drawn by Cornell, who knows how to get TV cartoon–style humor out of the action.” — Booklist

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Irresistible and undeniably super.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Teeming with funny vignettes.” — New York Times

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Will have kids laughing out loud.” — School Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Like its predecessors, this diary is a crowd-pleaser.” — ALA Booklist

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A FLY: “Impeccable comedic timing.” — Horn Book Magazine

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “Once again, brilliantly hilarious.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “A rib-tickling sequel.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “Hits squarely on the middle-grade funnybone.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

The noirlike detective Tully and the funny chickens running around, well, like chickens make appealing characters, especially as drawn by Cornell, who knows how to get TV cartoon–style humor out of the action.

Booklist

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “Hits squarely on the middle-grade funnybone.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Praise for Doreen Cronin’s DIARY OF A SPIDER: “Hits squarely on the middle-grade funnybone.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books