Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Review, Author Interview and Giveaway!: Interrupting Chicken

Today is the official release date for David Ezra Stein's lastest (sure-to-be-a-hit) Interrupting Chicken blog tour. To mark the release date, I have a review and author interview!

Stein, David Ezra.
Interrupting Chicken.
August 2010.
Candlewick Press.
Review copy provided courtesy of publisher.


Little Chicken refuses to go to bed without a bedtime story. However, every time her father starts sharing the story, Little Chicken interrupts. It's simply impossible to get through a story with her constant interruptions! When Little Chicken has exhausted all possibilities of a bedtime story because of her constant interruptions, Papa suggests that she tell the story. However, even she can't get through a story without facing interruptions - interruptions thanks to Papa and his loud snoring!

This book is sure to be a hit among your collection of bedtime stories, especially if you have an "interrupting chicken" of your own who hopes to delay bedtime with constant interruptions! Children are sure to enjoy the humor and will likely start expecting the times when Little Chicken is going to interrupt her father's story telling, as the tales he shares are familiar to most! Coupled with the surprise ending, the story is sure to be a favorite!

Interview with David Ezra Stein

I was so very fortunate to be a part of the Interrupting Chicken blog tour and have the opportunity to interview author, David Ezra Stein! Hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did taking part in it!

Katie: Thanks for taking the time to let me interrupt your day for a few moments! I'll make this quick so neither of us has to do too much interrupting of one another's day! I have to get this out of the way first! Do you have an "interrupting chicken" in your life? Can you share your inspiration behind writing the story?

David Ezra Stein: Yes, I have a 9 month old. He wasn't around yet when I wrote the story, but he was on the way! I was inspired by the knock-knock joke about the Interruping Chicken. The chicken seemed like the perfect character to expand upon and build a book on.

Katie: The tales in which you chose to have Little Chicken do her interrupting are classics for many children! I assume this had something to do with your selection of these particular tales... however, why did you not go with The Three Little Pigs or Goldilocks and the Three Bears? They're just as popular!

David Ezra Stein: I thought about "The Three Little Pigs" and "Goldilocks", and they were not as good to interrupt. There is not so much danger to the characters or one crux moment where an interruption would save them. Actually, when I wrote the very first draft of the story, the chicken did interrupt many stories (about 6), but I pared it down for the final book.

Katie: You mention that one of your inspirations in creating your own books is the desire to recreate the world that you remember from "sitting in a beloved lap and having a whole new world open" before you through the pictures and voice of the story. If you could share with parents what you feel is most important about reading to their child, what would you say to encourage them to read to their children on a daily basis?

David Ezra Stein: Reading is an intimate and loving way to bond with your child. You bring the book to life with your voice and the two of you read at your own pace. There are teachable moments, and lots of chances to stop and talk and laugh about what you are reading. Reading a story together means your child knows you are willing to stop the world and spend that moment with her. The kind of love that you are showing him by reading with him can never happen by plopping him in front of the TV or handing them your iPhone.

David, thank you so much your time!

Candlewick Press and David Ezra Stein have agreed to team up and offer my readers the chance to win a copy of his latest title, Interrupting Chicken! Details can be found below!

HOW TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
  • In a comment on this post, share with me (and my readers) about one of your "little chicken's" interrupting moments at bedtime!
  • Be sure to leave an email address along with your comment.
  • Deadline to enter is Tuesday, August 17th at 11:59PM EST.
  • For an extra entry(or three):
    1. Become a subscriber/follower of my blog (+1)
    2. Blog about this giveaway on your own blog and leave a link in your comment (+1)
    3. Leave a tweet on your Twitter page and then leave a link in your comment (+1)
  • Contest is open to U.S. Residents only, sorry for any inconveniences!
  • Winner will be selected by special guest poster on Wednesday, August 4th and will receive a complimentary copy of Interrupting Chicken!
Also, take a moment to check out these other stops on the Interrupting Chicken blog tour!

Aug. 9 – Picture Book Review
Aug. 10 - Katie's Literature Lounge
Aug. 11 – Readaholic

Aug. 12 - Two Writing Teachers
Aug. 13 - Not Just for Kids
Aug. 14 - Milk and Cookies, Comfort Reading . . .

Aug. 15 - Bookworm's Dinner
Aug. 16 - Where the Best Books Are
Aug. 17 – KidsLit review



If you're interested in finding out more information about any of the books reviewed or if you'd like to purchase the books, click the cover image for a link to Amazon.com. I am an Amazon Affiliate, so any purchases you make after clicking these images will result in my receiving a small percentage of the sale price!

4 comments:

style='clear: both;' Staci A said...

I loved reading your interview! My son is definitely an interrupting chicken! He regularly stops bedtime stories to talk about things that happened in his day (or last month.) Last night, our story sparked a memory of sharing time at school last year. It's always fun to hear what parts of stories bring back memories!
mommastaci33 at yahoo dot com

style='clear: both;' Deanna H. said...

Our youngest is our current interrupting chick! Every time we start to read a book she has to say, "That reminds me..." or "Did you know..." or "Oh look how cute that is..." and so on. After the first page or two we have to say to her, "Okay, do you want me to read this tonight?" Then she knows that she has to stop chatting or we'll never finish and then we'll never get to bed.

style='clear: both;' Deanna H. said...

Ooops! I forgot my e-mail is:
hennypenny1@live.com
Thanks!

style='clear: both;' Nancye said...

My daughter loves to get water, use the bathroom, ask a question, etc, etc. etc.

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net