Fowl Language: Supernatural Rubber Chicken

by D.L. Garfinkle

Meet the world's first superpower-granting, smart-alecky, supernatural rubber chicken!

It all starts when ten-year old twing Nate and Lisa Zupinski discover a rubber chicken lying in a pile of their brother's dirty laundry. "Dudes," Dave says, "It's a supernatural rubber chicken. He's, like, magic. He'll give the first person who touches him a superpower. And you guys get to pick which power." Lisa and Nate don't believe a word their airhead brother says, but then the chicken starts talking!

"Get me off of Dave's dirty underwear!"

Lisa decides to ask the chicken to turn her shy friend Ashley into a charming speaker. But when big bully Hulk Paine gets his hands on the chicken, super charm turns into super trouble! From acclaimed author and humorist D.L. Garfinkle comes a new series so silly, so slapstick, it's supernatural!

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Fantasy

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 10, 2008

Reviews

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. It is written for the upper elementary student who is often hard to find books for. The concept is goofy which is especially perfect for young boys, but I actually feel that the sister's voice is the strongest and girls will identify with it as well. Books for this age group are often geared toward either boys or girls, so it is great that, through the twins Nate and Lisa, the book can appeal to all children. I think some of the puns and word play are too advanced for the target audience, and the childrens' voices are much older than their stated ages. But, I like the fact that the writer doesn't patronize or underestimate the reader. There are also strong lessons about helping others; the twins want life to be better for their best friends. Overall, I would recommend this book.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha ha! You can't read it yet! I got this as an advance reader copy, and it is a worthy follow-up to "Storky: How I Lost My Nickname and Won the Girl". Read that while you are waiting for this quirky little comedy to come out Spring 2008.

[Monster]

Nate and Lisa, a bickering brother and sister, are given a talking supernatural rubber chicken that can bestow super abilities on someone other than the owner. When the siblings try to use the rubber chicken to help their friends, the school bully is accidentally imbued with super charm and the fun ensues. Supernatural Rubber Chicken is a fun little story with a supernatural aspect. However, while Garfinkle is generally funny, it should be noted that there is a running gag about the siblings’ mother who writes children’s stories involving dead dogs in the attempt to win the Newbery Award. While adults (particularly children’s librarians) may appreciate the humor, kids probably won’t. Although the book is aimed at ages 6-10, parts of it will fly over the heads of early elementary students, but the humor, design, and language used make it a good choice for reluctant readers ages 9 to 12.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

HI-larious! Twins who talk like regular smart-alecky kids, a surfer older brother and a rubber chicken that can make wishes come true -- sort of. This book is Pinkwater-ish and almost Pilkey-ish, and a review I saw on CNN featured an 8-year-old boy who kept saying "silly," "funny" and how much he liked it. We need more funny books in the world, and we also need more at this level ("transitional" or "chapter book").

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it is, a light, quick, goofy children's fantasy, it's pretty good. The basic premise, that of a quirky wishing implement, has been used a number of times in children's stories, but never quite this way, with the wishes coming from an annoying, talkative rubber chicken.
After being given the chicken by their surfing-obsessed older brother, the two main characters try to use its odd wishing rules to help their friends. Of course, things don't work out as easily as that...

[Moira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this is a cute premise and would probably create some hysterics in 3rd grade boys. I thought that it could have been faster paced. I would have liked more action... It had a nice moral, though and the wisecracking supernatural rubber chicken was pretty funny.

[Angelique · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun way to teach children about language, fowl and otherwise. I laughed A LOT!!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been a big favorite in my house but doesn't seem very popular so I thought I would add it to Goodreads.

[Armine · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice met author that's how cool I am jk

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clearly trying to tap into the "Wimpy Kid" market--and two sequels are advertised on the cover.