Northern Lights Book Awards
My Dog’s a Chicken
Winner of the Humor category
Author: Susan McElroy Montanari
Illustrator: Anne Wilsdorf
Schwartz & Wade Books
Come on down to the chicken farm where you got to make do. Times are tough, but Lula Mae wants a puppy more than anything else in the world, but practical Mama firmly tells her, “Dog’s just another mouth to feed.”
Undaunted, Lula Mae picks out a feisty chicken to adopt as her dog, and names him Pookie. Pookie is just as independent as Lula Mae and balks at this new arrangement. Mama’s doesn’t like it any better which she reiterates in her refrain of, “Call it anything you like, but it’s not coming into my house.” This is made even more amusing when Lula Mae’s brother, Baby Berry, echoes mama’s words.
Can a chicken-dog change Mama’s tune when Baby Berry goes missing? After all, they both have a soft spot for him. Never fear, we know where Baby Berry is all along, thanks to Wilsdorf’s whimsical illustrations.
My Dog’s A Chicken presents a time-honored theme with a hilarious twist, and it will have big uns and little uns knee-slapping and bellyaching with laughter!
On the surface, this book is a honking good time, but digging deeper you realize My Dog’s A Chicken is masterfully crafted and illustrated. Either way, it’s a read- aloud gem.