Starred ReviewStarred Review Chicken in the Kitchen
From the Series Lantana Global Picture Books
What would you do if you woke up one night to find the shadow of a giant chicken passing your bedroom door? Go and investigate, of course!
When Anyaugo follows a giant chicken into her kitchen one warm night in Nigeria, she embarks on a fun-filled adventure where nothing is quite as it seems. Is the nature spirit that lives in the wooden walls of her house a help or a hindrance? Is the mischievous giant chicken a friend or a foe? Most importantly, will Anyaugo be able to save the food her Aunties have cooked for the New Yam Festival the next day?
An entertaining look at the fascinating masquerade culture of West Africa, told from the perspective of a plucky young Nigerian girl who finds the courage to protect the traditions she loves.
WINNER of the Children’s Africana Best Book Award 2016
“Okorafor leaps into the world of picture books in a most unforgettable way with this playful, fascinating tale”—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED
“My little boy wanted me to read it three times in a row. So yeah, I think my kids are in agreement on this: Five Stars”—Patrick Rothfuss, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Format | Your Price | Add |
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978-1-911373-15-5
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$14.24 | |
978-1-913747-19-0
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$23.99 |
Awards
- We're the People Summer Reading List
Reviews
School Library Journal
Also illustrated by Amini, Nnedi Okorafor’s Chicken in the Kitchen (Lantana, 2017; K-Gr 4) stars another resourceful female protagonist. It’s the night before the New Yam Festival in Nigeria, and Anyaugo is awoken by a strange noise. The girl quietly creeps toward the kitchen, where she discovers a giant-size bird with spectacular, bright-hued feathers. Worried that this uninvited visitor will spoil the food her mother and aunties had prepared for the harvest celebration, she asks for help from the Wood Wit, a nature spirit that lives in the wooden walls of her house. However, as readers who look closely at the illustrations will suspect, the Wood Wit might be a bit of a trickster. Could the mysterious chicken be one of the powerful masquerade spirits that visit “the community during festivals, ceremonies and events”? It will take all of Anyaugo’s courage and cleverness to discover the truth. Lively text and vibrant artwork serve up a glimpse at this festival along with a playful perspective and bit of suspenseful adventure.
School Library Journal
“A sweet and satisfying story set in Nigeria that may inspire readers to learn more about the New Yam Festival and masquerades. A recommended general purchase for all libraries.”—School Library Journal
Booklist
“The big, bold, and sometimes almost three-dimensional illustrations maintain a folk-art feel while still feeling modern. . . . An unusual, but quite gregarious, offering.”—Booklist
Publishers Weekly
“[A] boisterous story of things that go bump in the night . . .”—Publishers Weekly
Starred ReviewStarred Review Kirkus Reviews
“Okorafor leaps into the world of picture books in a most unforgettable way with this playful, fascinating tale.”—starred, Kirkus Reviews