What do you think?
Rate this book
Chicken Cheeks
Some bears will go to any length to get some honey. This one recruits every animal that comes along to form, well, a stack. The result? Tail of the duck to the gluteus maximus of the duck-billed platypus (with many other rears in between). Readers will giggle with delight at the bird's eye view of some hysterical animal bottoms. Follow this back-sided journey up the tree - where the real surprise awaits. The pairing of Black's minimal text with Hawkes's visual story line will keep you chuckling from the bottom up.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published January 6, 2009
6 people are currently reading
919 people want to read
About the author
Michael Ian Black
30 books430 followersMichael Ian Black is a popular comedian who began his career with "The State," a sketch comedy troupe he co-founded at New York University in 1988, which went on to have a successful run on MTV. He then co-created the Comedy Central television series "Viva Variety," a fake European variety show.
From there, he appeared on several television shows before landing the role of Phil Stubbs, the quirky bowling alley manager on NBC's "Ed," which ran for almost four seasons. His next project was "Stella," a television show he co-created with Michael Showalter and David Wain, which ran on Comedy Central. Black has appeared in several films and is a popular contributor to VH1's "I Love the..." series.
In 2005, he wrote and directed his first film, "Wedding Daze," which starred Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher. His screenplay "Run Fat Boy Run," starring Simon Pegg and Thandie Newton, came out in 2007. Black is also a stand-up comedian, who regularly tours the country. His first album of stand-up comedy, "I Am a Wonderful Man," was released in 2007, and his first book of humorous essays, My Custom Van (and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face) came out in 2008. His first children's book, Chicken Cheeks was released in January, 2009. His latest project is "Michael and Michael Have Issues," a comedy series premiering in July 2009 on Comedy Central. Black is married and has two children.
From there, he appeared on several television shows before landing the role of Phil Stubbs, the quirky bowling alley manager on NBC's "Ed," which ran for almost four seasons. His next project was "Stella," a television show he co-created with Michael Showalter and David Wain, which ran on Comedy Central. Black has appeared in several films and is a popular contributor to VH1's "I Love the..." series.
In 2005, he wrote and directed his first film, "Wedding Daze," which starred Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher. His screenplay "Run Fat Boy Run," starring Simon Pegg and Thandie Newton, came out in 2007. Black is also a stand-up comedian, who regularly tours the country. His first album of stand-up comedy, "I Am a Wonderful Man," was released in 2007, and his first book of humorous essays, My Custom Van (and 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face) came out in 2008. His first children's book, Chicken Cheeks was released in January, 2009. His latest project is "Michael and Michael Have Issues," a comedy series premiering in July 2009 on Comedy Central. Black is married and has two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews
November 5, 2019
do you know that there are at least 17 different words to describe an animal's posterior without getting vulgar? i now know this because tommy tomato was kind enough to make this contribution to my "animal butts" shelf.
and boy, are there ever butts!!
and i hate to quibble, but i have some questions...
i'm not sure where this story is taking place - apart from the alliterative or rhyming butt-references: "turkey tushy", "moose caboose", the backstory is seriously lacking. where are these animals?? where does a moose even meet a flamingo and a rhinoceros in order to band together for an endeavor such as this?? is there an animal craigslist where mammals and birds get together and say "you, me, the honeybees - 10 am??" reptiles etc. must have their own sites, or were all busy on this day.or maybe alligators are not allowed on public transportation, i don't know.
also, maybe our resident engineer can clue me in on how this situation would even come to be, in a practical sense. because i really don't think a toucan could support the weight of a kangaroo, and there has got to be a better way of stacking these things! birds on top, rhinos underneath!! load-bearers, bear some loads! i mean, it is just common sense, michael ian black. that guinea pig never stood a chance...
i love the illustrations, i am simply concerned about this book's realism.
because all books must be judged according to their realism.
butt.
come to my blog!
and boy, are there ever butts!!
and i hate to quibble, but i have some questions...
i'm not sure where this story is taking place - apart from the alliterative or rhyming butt-references: "turkey tushy", "moose caboose", the backstory is seriously lacking. where are these animals?? where does a moose even meet a flamingo and a rhinoceros in order to band together for an endeavor such as this?? is there an animal craigslist where mammals and birds get together and say "you, me, the honeybees - 10 am??" reptiles etc. must have their own sites, or were all busy on this day.or maybe alligators are not allowed on public transportation, i don't know.
also, maybe our resident engineer can clue me in on how this situation would even come to be, in a practical sense. because i really don't think a toucan could support the weight of a kangaroo, and there has got to be a better way of stacking these things! birds on top, rhinos underneath!! load-bearers, bear some loads! i mean, it is just common sense, michael ian black. that guinea pig never stood a chance...
i love the illustrations, i am simply concerned about this book's realism.
because all books must be judged according to their realism.
butt.
come to my blog!
March 9, 2020
Getting to the 'bottom' of it all (sorry, that is so bad) great art and fun story!
February 4, 2012
Damn - my kids would have looooooooved this book!!! I love this book! What's not to love about such 'cheekiness'?!! How can you resist the temptation to learn various humorous ways to say 'arse' so you can repeat it to your friends and family when the most inappropriate time arrives?! It's an impossiblity my friends.
Of course,it's missing afew of the latest derriere slangs - like a jackel's junk or a beaver's booty. And a few classics were left out as well - a burro's buttocks and a porcupine's posterior. But I'm sure in the name of motherhood you could help your kiddies learn those as well.... enhance the story so to speak. Learning beyond the borders. It's all about getting your kids to see allll the other possibilites!!
Hahaaha!! I wish this book was around when my kids were little. *sigh* I missed out.
But it's never too late - and you're never too old - to learn afew new words!
Of course,it's missing afew of the latest derriere slangs - like a jackel's junk or a beaver's booty. And a few classics were left out as well - a burro's buttocks and a porcupine's posterior. But I'm sure in the name of motherhood you could help your kiddies learn those as well.... enhance the story so to speak. Learning beyond the borders. It's all about getting your kids to see allll the other possibilites!!
Hahaaha!! I wish this book was around when my kids were little. *sigh* I missed out.
But it's never too late - and you're never too old - to learn afew new words!
October 5, 2018
Derivative, if not a blatant rip-off of My Friend Rabbit.
Preschoolers will laugh uproariously, but there is little to spark the imagination. The illustrations are not particularly outstanding, and the book as a whole is rather forgettable.
On a tiny little island stands a tall bare tree. An odd cacophony of animals lift each other upwards to reach the prize at the top. As the animal tower rises higher and higher, we see each from the backside, with an amusing name label for their respective tushies.
Preschoolers will laugh uproariously, but there is little to spark the imagination. The illustrations are not particularly outstanding, and the book as a whole is rather forgettable.
On a tiny little island stands a tall bare tree. An odd cacophony of animals lift each other upwards to reach the prize at the top. As the animal tower rises higher and higher, we see each from the backside, with an amusing name label for their respective tushies.
January 7, 2010
I don't know how this got published. The entire book shows cartoonish animals stacked one on top of the other from the behind, citing different names for the buttocks.
There is no other text,surprise ending or humor other than saying the word "ass" in 13 different ways. The end shows all the animals falling from their stack with their rear ends sticking half way out of a pond and it reads
"The End."
I found it sorely lacking creativity. It was seriously pathetic. I am ok with books that address body parts and humor. This just missed the mark.
There is no other text,surprise ending or humor other than saying the word "ass" in 13 different ways. The end shows all the animals falling from their stack with their rear ends sticking half way out of a pond and it reads
"The End."
I found it sorely lacking creativity. It was seriously pathetic. I am ok with books that address body parts and humor. This just missed the mark.
July 24, 2013
Seriously?
Go here for the rest of my review: http://bloggingbrookeworm.blogspot.co...
Go here for the rest of my review: http://bloggingbrookeworm.blogspot.co...
Read
January 25, 2017Bum humor is the Ol' Reliable of kids books. I have to admit, this book is funny. Great word choice, great illustrations (big Kevin Hawkes fan here). I would hesitate to read this one aloud to a group of kids because it would be asking for a buttload of trouble. That said, it was good for a cheeky laugh with my own child.
See what I mean? Ol' Reliable.
See what I mean? Ol' Reliable.
May 15, 2009
Amusing little book featuring various animal behinds! The word choices and rhymes and great fun and build vocabulary. Any book that includes "duckbill platypus gluteus maximus" deserves four stars, haha! :-D
Thanks to Angie for bringing this to my attention.
Thanks to Angie for bringing this to my attention.
July 17, 2016
Best bum book ever, hehehehe
March 28, 2016
This is a story with a beginning, a middle, and a whole lot of ends.
Perfection!
Perfection!
May 21, 2018
This book made me mad. I'm furious that I did not think of this first. Kids loved it.
January 28, 2010
It's a fact, I'm a sucker for the bold, chewy acrylics of Kevin Hawkes. His love of orange and blue is apparently nearly as ardent as mine own. The guy's color contrast always puts me in mind of Maxfield Parrish. And in Chicken cheeks, his slightly just-past-normal expressions and colors are perfectly tuned to the subject matter.
And the subject matter is butts.
Yes, butts. But cute butts, not crass butts. Rhyming, alliterative, clever butts. Sure, it'll have the kids rolling on the floor (because - look - it's butts!) but it won't set parents to wincing, unless said parent is the type that thinks "caboose" as a term for "butt" is offensive. Or "patootie". Myself, I'd be thrilled if my children started using more creative terms, and I didn't have to hear "butt butt butt" all day.
I wonder where they picked that up?
And the subject matter is butts.
Yes, butts. But cute butts, not crass butts. Rhyming, alliterative, clever butts. Sure, it'll have the kids rolling on the floor (because - look - it's butts!) but it won't set parents to wincing, unless said parent is the type that thinks "caboose" as a term for "butt" is offensive. Or "patootie". Myself, I'd be thrilled if my children started using more creative terms, and I didn't have to hear "butt butt butt" all day.
I wonder where they picked that up?
January 10, 2013
HAHA! I truly loved this picture book about animals rear ends lol! And it's written my Michael Ian Black who I also love. (by the way, best author picture ever. He's passed out in it... or sleeping.. or?).
From the moment he grabs the duck I was like- "whaaa?" and loved it to the very end (no pun intended). I picked up this book because I have chickens and needed a fun read on my lunch break and am always drawn now to funny chicken books. This one does not disappoint. Very cute and well done. I can imagine having a lot of fun with a child of the right age coming up with animal tail references they missed!
From the moment he grabs the duck I was like- "whaaa?" and loved it to the very end (no pun intended). I picked up this book because I have chickens and needed a fun read on my lunch break and am always drawn now to funny chicken books. This one does not disappoint. Very cute and well done. I can imagine having a lot of fun with a child of the right age coming up with animal tail references they missed!
March 19, 2009
Taboo subjects have always been completely riveting to young children. Look at the popularity of Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants, or Taro Gomi’s Everyone Poops. If it is a gross, “eww”, or makes-you-blush subject, the books fly off the shelf. The same will be said for Michael Ian Black’s new book Chicken Cheeks. While not the most verbose book I have run across, it is good fun and the illustrations are hilarious. If you have a child who you cannot get interested in books, but they totally crack up at the mention of the word “tush”, check Chicken Cheeks out today.
April 14, 2009
Not until I finished this book did I realize it was written by Michael Ian Black, late of "The State" and (I think) "Wet Hot American Summer." Pretty crazy that he's writing a children's book, but he did a heck of a job with this, his first one. A group of animals pile on top of one another, each with his/her rear end in the previous animal's face. And each animal butt either rhymes or begins with the same letter as the animal it belongs to (personal favorites: "gnu wazoo" and "duck-billed platypus gluteus maximus"). The illustrations by Kevin Hawkes are suitably silly.
June 3, 2009
Really, how can you NOT enjoy a book devoted entirely to seeing how many words one can use to describe an animal's rear end? From "penguin patootie" to "kangaroo keister" this title has them all covered (or not, as the case may be). What, you may ask, is the purpose behind labeling all of these behinds? Because bear wants something at the top of the tree, so he has all of the animals pile on top of each other in an effort to reach his goal. As far a the early literacy skills this book encourages, on is, of course, vocabulary.
October 12, 2009
The funniest book I've read in a long time. Who can not laugh when the author finds as many synonyms for rear-end as he can, then rhymes them with animals and makes a story out of it? For even more fun, tune into Amazon.com for a video clip of the author reading the book. I've used this in storytime and the kids loved it. My nephew claimed it was his "special book" when his older brother tried to take it away from him. (I gave it to the younger nephew for his birthday.)
January 9, 2010
This is one of the funniest children's books I've read in a while. It is all about animals bootys. Older toddlers to kindergarteners will laugh hysterically at all the slang words for the backside. My favorite one was duck bill platypus gluteus maximus. That stopped me cold in the middle of my story time. I had to put the book down so I could laugh. I suppose this is why I should pre-read the books. :-)
September 12, 2010
I loved this book! I picked it up on a whim at the library today. I the young kids had already gone to bed, but I asked who wanted to have story time to my 3 teenagers.( this is when the eye rolling started) I started to read out loud anyway. We restarted the book 3 times as each child joined the party. We giggled and laughed then read it again to find out how the ants got up there. I am so going to buy this book, and many times for many years!
October 26, 2009
I loved this book! It is hilarious...you will giggle and belly laugh the entire way through. It is clever and genuinely funny and your children will LOVE it...no matter what age! This is going to go on that shelf of books that can instantly solicit a smile or giggle from me...not matter what the circumstance!
August 3, 2009
I love the predictability of the fly (or was it an ant) climbing up all the animals as the reader learns so many different ways to say "butt" nicely. I think the kids didn't get it at Max's daycare. Maybe they aren't as exceptional as I thought!
April 9, 2010
How in the world did I miss this book when it came out? First, it's about BUTTS (what's not to love) and it's written by Michael Ian Black from "The State" which was one of my favorite shows back in the day.
April 17, 2013
Loved it, we ended up reading it 6 times in a row, we had the whole library laughing. How many ways can you say backside? Simply wrote, great pictures, and an imagination jump start, bet you can think of a few yourself.
December 29, 2015
I only add this book because we've read it so many times. My seven year old thinks it's hilarious and calls it her favorite book. It's a book about names for animal butts so I'm sure some will think it's offensive, but truly it's just silly and harmless.
February 2, 2009
I read this to Jeff and he called it "LOLbutts," which I think is pretty accurate.
February 9, 2009
How many ways can you say butt? Kids will giggle.
February 24, 2012
Oh how I love this hilarious book! Enjoyed doing "I Spy" with my son searching for ants...
June 28, 2014
goodness gracious this book is awful.
June 7, 2015
Good for a storytime book -- butts everywhere!
May 6, 2017
Simple story that involves lots of words for butt. No real depth, minimal words.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 375 reviews