Kung Pow Chicken - 01: Let's Get Cracking

Kung Pow Chicken #1

by Cyndi Marko

Kung pow chicken is the superhero everyone has been waiting for. Gordon blue transforms into kung pow chicken, an avian superhero who fights crime in the city of fowladelphia. The first book in the series kicks off when gordon's birdy senses lead him to a festival. Suddenly, poof! feathers fill the air and shivering naked chickens are everywhere. Why have all these chickens lost their feathers? forced to wear wooly sweaters, the city itches for a hero. Kung pow chicken hops into his beakmobile to save the day.

Genres: Humor, Childrens, Chapter Books, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Fantasy, Superheroes

74 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

It was a hit with my second grade reader! This is a great bridge book for kids to boost their reading confidence with high interest with graphic novel formatting, punny chicken super hero brothers, and just enough silliness to make readers giggle together for that 20 minutes of reading every day. I did have to explain some of the knitting jokes, but that was good context reading practice and background knowledge building. Readers should also look at some of the other "branches" by scholastic offerings (we like the Dragon Masters by Tracey West though it's more Fantasy than humor/super hero), Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey, The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey, or Frankie Pickle and the Closet of Doom by Eric Wright. Happy Reading! ~ Alexis S.

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so cracking awesome there aren't words. It's punny and funny and perfect for readers who are not quite ready for bigger chapter books. <3 it!!!!

[Elizabeth Westlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kung Pow Chicken is a beginning chapter book for younger readers. It is divided up into chapters, but also uses elements of a graphic novel and each page is illustrated. It follows the characters of brothers Gordon and Benny, two chicken brothers who fall into their uncle's science experiment. This gives them superhero powers. The two then set off to solve a mystery in their town and use their powers to help their chicken community.

This book incorporated elements of fantasy in the personified animals and events. It also incorporated science fiction in that scientific experiments led to certain outcomes. While I didn't find the story incredibly fascinating, I think that younger readers would appreciate the humorous situations and chicken puns. The illustrations and graphics would also help support the transition from picture books to chapter books. This may also be a good choice for more reluctant readers.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cyndi Marko has created an hilarious hero for the primary grades. In Fowladelphia, the "City of Featherly Love," live Gordon and his little brother Benny. But they are not your average young chickens. They fell into a vat of toxic sludge in their Uncle Quack's lab and now they are Kung Pow Chicken and his sidekick Egg Drop. Filled with one-liners about getting leotard wedgies from their costumes and little old ladies tossing their cookies, this adventure has a superhero that is part Spider-man, part Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and part Captain Underpants. The dynamic duo pedals around on their Beakmobile (Big Wheel) and keeps the city safe from villains like Granny Goosebumps (who is a bad egg).

This is the first book in the Kung Pow Chicken series. The series is a part of Scholastic's early chapter book line called Branches. It is written for readers in lower elementary grades, but has humor that will appeal to older siblings and adults, too. There are full-color illustrations on every page to show all the superhero action. The story is face paced, entertaining, and full of laughs.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I tell you this book SLAPS I mean it. Honestly it’s up there with Game of Scones for my favorite 3rd grade book. Usually I read it at the beginning of the year because it’s a quiiick read for us but DAMN I forgot about it and I won’t ever do that again.
Kung pow chicken and his side kick egg drop have to stop the evil granny’s and save their city! And there’s NO name calling, ALL the word play and just a classic silly book!!! Probably my second over all favorite 3rd grade book!!

STILL a favorite 3rd grade book, UGH the kids eat it up and so do I!

[Cemeread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kung Pow Chicken: Let's Get Cracking is part of Scholastic branches books, which are early chapter books. It is shorter (less text) and has full color pictures on each page. Think of it as a picture book of smaller size and vocabulary first and second graders can handle. Kung Pow, through an accident in his Uncle's lab, is a superhero chicken, complete with sidekick. Of course, he still has to go to school and listen to his mother. There are three more Kung Pow Chicken adventures.

[Jenny Swenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 7 year old read this book to me and he loved it. When the timer went off for him to be done reading he said "Ah! Can I keep reading?" Then when he finished the book he said he wanted to start it over again. It's rare that we find a book he likes that much. We're excited to get the next book in the series.

[Becky B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gordon and Benny are playing follow the leader at their uncle's lab when they fall into a huge vat of toxic goo and accidentally develop super powers. Now they have secret identities as Kung Pow Chick and Egg Drop. When chickens at the Fall Festival start losing their feathers in droves, can this new little superhero duo figure out who is causing the feathers to fall and stop them?

I can see why this book was literally loved to pieces to the extent I'm cataloging a replacement. It's a fun superhero adventure for lower grade readers with a humorous, unlikely superhero duo. The dialogue and situations are funny, and there's just enough action and mystery to keep readers turning the pages. Hand this to lower grade superhero fans, humor fans, and reluctant readers.

Notes on content: The battle with the baddy consists of wrapping string around each other and knitting, so not really violent.

[Rini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a cute book, two chicken brothers fall in a vat of toxic waste in their scientist uncle's lab and become superheroes. Book one is centered around all of the chickens in their city mysteriously losing all their feathers and having to buy sweaters from a very convenient new sweater making grandma. Kung pow chicken and Egg Drop are on the case and solve everything before dinner time (well almost).
Lots of color and fun dialogue in this book. The suspense of them finding the bad guy and serving justice was intense for my 4 year old, she loved it and giggled several times throughout the book. She loved pointing out when someone was sneaking around in the background of the pictures and Kung Pow Chicken didn't see. We've already gotten the next several books in the series.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed a set of this book from a Scholastic Warehouse Sale to use as a book group for my first and second grade students. The back targets first-third grade with a second grade reading level. I would agree with the leveling of this book. There was a lot of fun word play and allusions in the book, as well, which would challenge some above-level readers. It is a silly and fun story- Kung Pow Chicken as a superhero? Of course it is! I'm sure young readers will find it entertaining. I'll probably need to snag some other books in the series to add to my library after reading it with my students.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to some radioactive goop in their uncle's poorly-designed mad science lair, Gordon and his little brother Benedict developed super powers. However, as chickens (or eggs, in Benny's case), their abilities are poultry-themed: tingly tail feathers, mighty wings, and mega cluck. Kung Pow Chicken and his sidekick Egg Drop first have the opportunity for heroics at a local festival when everyone's feathers fall out thanks to some suspicious cookies. It's midway between an easy reader and a graphic novel and full of humorous details, making this a great option to draw in newly independent readers.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another series in the Branches imprint from Scholastic. This is more of a graphic novel than the other series I have read in the Branches imprint. The hero Gordon Blue and his younger brother, both chickens, accidentally slipped and fell into a bubbling toxic sludge at his Uncle Quack's laboratory. As you may surely surmise this gives them super powers. Gordon becomes Kung Pow Chicken and his brother becomes Egg Drop. It's a fun story, the illustrations are great, and Uncle Quack does redeem himself.

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this with my 4 year old son and he really enjoyed it. He loves superheroes so that element was fun for him. This series is the perfect transition from picture books to chapter books, because there are full color pictures on every page and few enough lines per page to keep their attention. I love that Scholastic created this "Branches" line of books which are great for early readers. They are fun for us to read together now and he will be able to revisit them on his own when he is starting to read chapter books.

[Debbie Dwyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like hero books? If so, kung pow chicken is the book for you! One reason you should read kung pow chicken is that he is cool but sometimes funny. Another reason you should read this awesome book is because he is a hero. For example he saved all the naked chickens from granny goose bumps. For example he said I’ve got chicken bumps don’t you mean goose bumps because chicken bumps isn't a word but im a chicken and i have bumps! Pow! What is that sound? Ohh this sound is kung pow chicken defeating Granny Goose bumps! In my opinion kung pow chicken is my favorite book!
Asher

[Munchie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good starter book for kids moving away from big picture books. The text is very minimal, the pictures follow that of a comic book style but not frame by frame. The world is simple, not very compelling but I can see small kids really liking the series. And it's chicken super heroes. So there's light hearted jokes thrown in here. Main characters don't really have much personality, but the book is based on actions rather than character development so kids can focus on learning new words that go alongside what they see in the pictures. It's "eggciting" to say the least!

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It happened as a total accident, but Gordon and his younger brother Benny are chicken superheroes! They are funny and goofy. Gordon always feels his birdy senses tingling when danger is nearby, and so of COURSE on field trip day - those birch senses tingle! And POOF! Feathers are everywhere! What is happening in Fowledephia?

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chicken AND knitting puns, in one book intended for an audience of second graders? Everything about this should appeal to me, but I found it lacking. I am going to pass this book along to the intended demographic and I am looking forward to hearing what they think of it. My guess is that the chicken puns and knitting knowledge will be lost on them.

[Cecely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Kung Pow Chicken read before bedtime. My kids insisted on starting out of order, but I was happy to see that didn't affect our ability to understand the story or its characters since the author helpfully gives a brief synopsis of how the heroes go their superpowers. I'd say book two is even more funny than the first, but the first installment to the series was enjoyable and fun.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gordon Blue and his little brother Benedict were in a lab accident and now transform into Kung Pow Chicken and Egg Drop! They are ready to fight crime and be superheros!!

On their school field trip to the Fowl Fall Festival, something is weird. Chickens keep eating yucky cookies and losing their feathers! Can Kung Pow Chicken save the day?

[superawesomekt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a super silly but fun early reader chapter book. Chicken Gordon Blue has a classic super hero origin story and his sidekick Benny is with him all the way--in this episode Gordon has to learn to embrace his superhero identity and help the chicken community heal after some mysterious cookie sabotage...

[Niki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for kids just transitioning to chapter books. It is silly, colorful, entertaining, and appeals to both boys and girls. My five year old can read it on her own and my three year old and I enjoy reading it together. We will definitely be reading more books in this series.

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking for series that would appeal to 1st-3rd graders, I noticed this when cataloging and checked it out. Not my cup of tea (too disjointed for my brian--oops, brain--right now), but I think the silly humor fits right in with the age group I have in mind.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute combination of graphic novel and book for early readers who are just starting on chapter books. It has been hard to find graphic novels like this that are appropriate for little readers (e.g., Dogman). My first grade son was hooked immediately and couldn't put it down!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two brother chickens acquire superpowers when they accidentally fall into some toxic liquid at their Uncle Quack's lab. When glowy cookies cause any chickens who eat them to lose their feathers, it's time for Kung Pow Chicken and Egg Drop to save the day. Chicken superheroes = hilarious!

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved reading this book. It was his first chapter book and it definitely made him smile and laugh out loud. He read it this summer (he's going into 2nd grade) and is a somewhat reluctant reader so I was excited he enjoyed it so much.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gordon Blue was just an ordinary second grader, until he fell into a vat of bubbling toxic sludge, and emerged with super powers. He took the alter ego as Kung Pow Chicken, and with the help of his side kick Egg Drop they have to thwart the evil plans of Granny Goosebumps.

[Memory Toast · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to hook kids into reading with, but also good for those who enjoy comic, superhero stories!

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another full color almost chapter book to entice your reader. I love the humor. I wish more people were aware of these fantastic Branches offerings.

[Seung Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book that even a six year old can relate to. My son really liked the leotards. He thought they were funny on the superhero-chicken.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute early chapter book with color pictures. It has some reading comprehension questions at the end which would appeal to parents.