“Marchini’s story and economy of telling display the chicken as total id, and Felix’s pencil-and-watercolor illustrations are genuine works of art. A surprising gem.” – Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Early readers will enjoy following Chicken through her barnyard adventure and will be able to decode objects and emotions easily due to the well-defined expressions of the animals…A welcome addition to…preschool or kindergarten collections, come rain or come shine.” – School Library Journal
From The Blog
Happy 2nd birthday, CHICKEN WANTS A NAP!
It's Chicken's second birthday today, and I couldn't be more thrilled that my first feathered picture book protagonist is still out there, trying to take naps and avoid smelly barnyard cows.There's been so much to be grateful for these last two years as an...
read more4 quick tips for your first conference critique
It's actually kind of intimidating to sit down with an author face-to-face and analyze their manuscript. You know that they've put their heart and soul into what they've just handed you. And, I know from sitting on the other end of the chair, what you want...
read moreI understand picture book structure, so what’s stopping me from getting an agent?
I feel like there comes a point in a lot of picture book author’s writing journeys where they’ve been writing picture books for a while, they understand picture book structure really well, they’re using picture book language, and they understand art notes...
read moreGOODBYE, MR. SPALDING by Jennifer Robin Barr is a Booklist “Top 10 Sports Books for Youth”
Congratulations to Jennifer Robin Barr, whose middle grade debut Goodbye, Mr. Spalding made the editors' list of "Top 10 Sports Books for Youth," which will be featured in the Spotlight on Sports in the September 1st issue of Booklist! About...
read moreCongratulations Meera Sriram on A GIFT FOR AMMA!
I'm so thrilled to share that Meera Sriram's second book, A Gift for Amma: Market Day in India, will be illustrated by Mariona Cabassa and published by Barefoot Books in the fall of 2020! The text is full of lush, colorful images and I can't...
read moreWhat do I do with the manuscripts I wrote/illustrated that didn’t sell?
Unfortunately, most authors (and author-illustrators) won’t sell everything they create, and agents definitely won’t sell every project they ever put on submission. So what do you do with a manuscript that’s been shelved – either because it’s...
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