Chicken Dance

by Tammi Sauer

Cows fly over the moon, ducks surf in a water trough and one very familiar-looking rooster gets all shook up, in this giddy romp that kids will love. 4+

Genres: Picture Books, Humor, Animals, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime, Birds

36 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2009

About the author

Tammi Sauer is the author of Cowboy Camp (Sterling, 2005), Chicken Dance (Sterling, 2009), Mostly Monsterly (Paula Wiseman/S&S, 2010), the forthcoming Princess-in-Training (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), and something that's currently Top Secret.

Tammi and her family live in Oklahoma with one dog, two geckos, and a tank full of random fish.

Reviews

[Hilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You chicks rocked!” A roster swooped to the stage. “You had me all shook up.”
Elvis Poultry was in the building.

Honestly, I probably had more fun reading this book to my third graders that they had listening to it. I mean, Elvis Poultry!! That’s hilarious. I loved Marge and Lola these two adorable dancing chickens. After trying and failing at so many things like bowling, juggling, tightrope walking and flying. These chicks are out of options. What do they do? They dance of course. And what an epic dance performance it was.

The kids enjoyed the competition and scores. They really hated the ducks and we had a lot of fun.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this dated by now? I mean, parents of today's preschoolers were mostly born at least 20 years after Elvis died, and look at that cover.
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Never mind. The book names Elvis Poultry. And besides, my 28 yo son recognized the cover allusion immediately. In my opinion, the best part of the book, though, is the back jacket flap mini biographies. The story itself is slight.

[Candice · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first glance (no, you can't always tell a book by its cover) I thought this would be one of those kids' books that was really written for the parents. The rooster on the cover is obviously the rooster version of Elvis Presley. But the story inside is fun and entertaining for all ages. Marge and Lola, two chickens, want in the worst way to win the barnyard talent show. First prize is tickets to see Elvis Poultry in concert. But what talents do they have? As those cocky ducks tell them, all they can do is bawk, flap and shake. They try other activities - bowling, juggling, tightrope walking - but don't seem to have a talent for any of those. Soon it's the night of the talent show, and each animal does what he or she does best. Will Marge and Lola take first prize? Will they meet their idol? But wait! The story's not over when the last page has been read. Look at the back cover to see Elvis Poultry's album cover. Songs include Jailhouse Bawk and Are You Ruffled Tonight. Colorful and funny illustrations bring the story of Marge and Lola alive and may have kids and parents dancing through the house.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It had me at "Elvis Poultry." I liked the humor in the book, as well as the story. I think I'm coming around to being just fine with the illustration style, too. It was probably the humor that is the best. I think the older end of K-5 will get this.

7/1/10 Not too bad for school-age. Some jokes they didn't get. Some they thought a little lame. But I think they enjoyed the story itself, and enthusiastically called out the scores they thought the animals would get. The "talent show" we did in groups afterward was enjoyable, too.

[Kim Zarins · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are lots of reasons to love this picture book, but the one I'll share is the judicious way Sauer ties up a loose end with cunning purpose. All the animals at the talent show get a score rating…but we don't know what the cows score for their lunar jump until a key moment presents itself. It's funny and smart how Sauer did that! She could have given the chickens a 10, but she found a way that is much more clever and suits the team spirit she later develops in BAWK & ROLL. Fun story, and the pairing of text and illustration is delightful.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

The barnyard is having a talent show! Everyone is very excited because the grand prize is tickets to the Elvis Poultry concert!

When the Chickens see the advertisement they immediately begin thinking what they could do for a talent. As they are trying to figure that out the ducks walk by and tell them they don't have a chance because the Ducks always win. The Chickens decide to get on the stage anyway. When they do they choose to just act like chickens. The audience goes wild!

The Chickens don't score high enough to beat the Ducks, but they do catch the attention of Elvis Poultry. So Chickens do get to go to the concert...as Elvis' backup singers!

The humorous story will most likely go over most children's heads. But it is still quite funny.

[Emily Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from an absolute Elvis fanatic, there are so many ways this book could’ve gone wrong. But Tammi Sauer did not disappoint! There’s just enough Elvis and just enough of a unique storyline. My favorite part, however, is the “Bawkabawk Records” LP listing on the back cover...I lost it at “Are You Ruffled Tonight?” and “Can’t Help Falling in Feed.” This book is definitely going in my collection of books to read to my future children...who will most assuredly be well-versed in all things Elvis Presley.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It doesn't pay to make fun of people, as the ducks learn in this story. A talent contest is held to see who will win tickets to see Elvis Poultry live in concert. Two chickens are set on winning, but can't figure out what they should do. The ducks keep telling them to back out as they won each year. The chickens persevere and though they don't win the tickets, they do become backup dancers for the famous Elvis Poultry.

Good for preschool storytimes.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Marge and Lola, chickens on a mission: to win tickets for the Elvis Poultry Show! But their toughest competition — a pack of menacing ducks — sneers that “all a chicken can do is bawk, flap, and shake.” Can our two feisty chicks show those quackers how to rock ’n’ roll the barnyard?
Tammi Sauer and Dan Santat have whipped up a giddy, goofy romp where cows fly over the moon, ducks surf in a water trough, and one very familiar-looking rooster gets all shook up!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marge and Lola chicken just had to win the talent show and win tickets to Elvis Poultry's concert! The problem was that the ducks always won, so Marge and Lola had to find a fabulous chicken talent this year. Fun story, humorous illustrations, satisfying ending.

[Giselle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is absolutely hilarious and makes a great read aloud - especially if you have a reader who likes to do "voices". Elvis Poultry is in the building......50 barns in 50 days. Adults will like this too.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marge and Lola really want to win the contest and get a pass to meet Elvis. But the ducks are convinced that they will win. And Marge and Lola don't have an act planned at all. What are chickens good for? This is cute and funny.

[Laura Bradham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is some barn yard fun that I can relate to. This is a funny story, teaching kids to be themselves and do what they do best. It introduces how to deal with bullying and that you are never alone in the world.

[Michelle Peck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just fun all around!

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 3 out of 5]

The barn yard critters are all preparing for a talent show. The main thing that I didn't like about this book is that one animal calls another animal loser....mean!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story in which the chickens want to win the barnyard talent show so they can get tickets to the Elvis Poultry concert, but the ducks always win. What will the chickens do?

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids will appreciate the ridiculous barnyard animal antics, and adults will appreciate the clever phrases woven into the story.

[Hollie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute. I thought it was okay. My daughter loved the pictures. She did ask at the end when they were going to dance, since it was kind of glossed over.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The chickens are throwing a dance party while the farmer is away. What animal will win the dance contest? Preschool and up fro concept about differnt dances. humor is just more grown up

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book has talking animals, so everything needs to be chickens.

P.S. They went to a barn.

[Jennifer Steele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The humor of this book is great. The ending was not what I was expecting at all. Threw me for a loop for sure. The illustrations were beautiful as well.

[Ian McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and brilliantly funkily illustrated. Flo and Eadie cheered when Marge and Lola got picked.

[Dan Blackley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another funny children's book!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, clever, lots of groan-inducing chicken puns.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute! A talent show competition. Who judges who? Who wins? What wins?

[Jillian Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have one student the LOVES Elvis. This book was perfect for him.

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two chickens desperately want tickets to Elvis Poultry, but the ducks always win the talent show. But maybe the ducks teasing is what they need to show off their chicken dance and meet Elvis:)

[J. Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and fun story! The word play and illustrations are perfect!

[Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute!

[ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

the storytime kids didnt know who elvis was 3
(thats ok they are all like 4 years old)