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Chick and Brain #1
Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot!
A Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book
From Newbery Honor winner Cece Bell comes an offbeat, pitch-perfect storybook for beginning readers that will have them in fits of giggles.
"Maybe your foot smells good.
Maybe your foot smells great.
But I will not smell your foot until you say PLEASE."
Meet Chick and Brain. And their friend Spot. Chick likes to follow the rules. Brain might not be as smart as he looks. And Spot just wants to eat lunch. A primer on good manners gone awry.
From Newbery Honor winner Cece Bell comes an offbeat, pitch-perfect storybook for beginning readers that will have them in fits of giggles.
"Maybe your foot smells good.
Maybe your foot smells great.
But I will not smell your foot until you say PLEASE."
Meet Chick and Brain. And their friend Spot. Chick likes to follow the rules. Brain might not be as smart as he looks. And Spot just wants to eat lunch. A primer on good manners gone awry.
72 pages, Hardcover
Published September 3, 2019
62 people are currently reading
1825 people want to read
About the author
Cece Bell
34 books817 followersI'm an author and an illustrator, and sadly not a jazz pianist. I live in an old church in the hills of Virginia with my husband, author Tom Angleberger. I work right next door in a new-ish barn. I've written and illustrated a bunch of books for kids and was lucky enough to get a Geisel Honor for one of 'em. If you want to know more about my hearing loss or my childhood (or both), check out my first graphic novel, El Deafo. It's only slightly fictionalized, honest! I'm at www.cecebell.com if you want to see more weird stuff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews
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December 22, 2020[Book #4 for my grad school Children's Lit class]
March 4, 2020
It's Read Across America week!
As part of the celebration, my daughter's class had parents come in and read books to the kids. As luck would have it, I got to be one of those parents! Since I am such an avid reader, it was so exciting to be a part of an event that encourages kids to read. From what I could tell, it is working because they were all very enthusiastic!
My choice was Smell My Foot by Cece Bell. I had not read it before, but someone recommend Bell's more well known selection, El Deafo, to my daughter and my daughter has already read that one two times in the past week. With an endorsement like that I felt like giving her other book a go might be the perfect choice for her class.
I am pleased to report that the kids - and the teacher (who laughed throughout) - loved it! I enjoyed doing silly voices for each character and I was pleased to hear the kids whisper "I love this book" several times throughout. I was so glad to have picked a winner and that I made my daughter proud of her Daddy!
The kids have spoken - 5 stars!
Oh, and I am sure the teacher loved having a room full of kids demanding she smell their feet for the rest of the day! 🤣🤣🤣
As part of the celebration, my daughter's class had parents come in and read books to the kids. As luck would have it, I got to be one of those parents! Since I am such an avid reader, it was so exciting to be a part of an event that encourages kids to read. From what I could tell, it is working because they were all very enthusiastic!
My choice was Smell My Foot by Cece Bell. I had not read it before, but someone recommend Bell's more well known selection, El Deafo, to my daughter and my daughter has already read that one two times in the past week. With an endorsement like that I felt like giving her other book a go might be the perfect choice for her class.
I am pleased to report that the kids - and the teacher (who laughed throughout) - loved it! I enjoyed doing silly voices for each character and I was pleased to hear the kids whisper "I love this book" several times throughout. I was so glad to have picked a winner and that I made my daughter proud of her Daddy!
The kids have spoken - 5 stars!
Oh, and I am sure the teacher loved having a room full of kids demanding she smell their feet for the rest of the day! 🤣🤣🤣
February 9, 2020
I picked this up because I liked Bell's El Deafo so much. Well, this ain't that, but this children's comic book about etiquette is so aggressively stupid and silly that it almost won me over. I'm going to try the next book in the series to see if there is something here.
December 12, 2022
✩ 4 stars
~
well it’s officially confirmed my sense of humor is stuck in MIDDLE SCHOOL! XD
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well it’s officially confirmed my sense of humor is stuck in MIDDLE SCHOOL! XD
December 15, 2020
I picked up this book to read with my bf (mostly because the title is an inside joke lol).
This was a really weird book (if the title is of any indication), but I really liked it! It's a fun and silly book about manners that I'm sure will garner some laughs.
*** #20 of my 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book you picked because the the title caught your attention ***
This was a really weird book (if the title is of any indication), but I really liked it! It's a fun and silly book about manners that I'm sure will garner some laughs.
*** #20 of my 2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge - A book you picked because the the title caught your attention ***
July 3, 2019
One of the weirdest picture books I've read in a while - in a very good way though!
February 25, 2020
What a fun book! Gave this to my grandsons and they just giggled.
Thanks Goodreads!
Thanks Goodreads!
December 8, 2019
Richie’s Picks: CHICK AND BRAIN: SMELL MY FOOT! by Cece Bell, Candlewick, September 2019, 72p., ISBN: 978-0-7636-7936-1
Brain wants his buddy Chick to smell his foot.
“‘Smell my foot!’
‘What?’
‘Smell my foot!’
‘No. I will not smell your foot.’
‘Oh, come on! Smell it!’
‘Smell it now!’
‘No. I will not smell your foot.’
‘But my foot smells good.’
‘My foot smells great!’
‘Maybe your foot smells good.’
‘Maybe your foot smells great.’
‘But I will not smell your foot until you say PLEASE.’
‘Like this: Please smell my foot.’
‘Oh! OK!’
‘SNIFF!’
‘Woo! That is something else!’
‘Now you can smell my foot!’
‘No, no, no! You must say PLEASE.’
‘Say please, and then I will smell your foot.’
(Brain scratches his head.)
‘Oh!’
‘Please smell my foot.’
‘That is much better!’
‘Now I will smell your foot.’
‘SNIFF!’”
Not all new readers have an easy time of it, or a natural passion for reading. For those who are struggling or reluctant, it helps to have noteworthy books to share, books that are crazy, silly, and fun.
Cece Bell’s CHICK AND BRAIN: SMELL MY FOOT! contains these elements that keep young readers reading. CHICK AND BRAIN (rhymes with Dick and Jane) turn the teaching of “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome” into a running joke worthy of a comedy team. It’s also a memorable friendship book in which Brain rescues the clueless Chick from becoming Spot the dog’s lunch, thanks to Brain having a stinky foot up his sleeve.
Brain is a sight to behold. Either he’s got a brain setting atop his head, looking like an Afro, or an Afro looking like a brain. Furthermore, he’s garbed in white boxers with red hearts and his hands and feet are attached by stick figure arms and legs. Unfolding in comic book format, through four chapters, this beginning reader is guaranteed to hold the attention of goofy, active six-year-olds.
I’m hoping we’ll see another book featuring this odd pair of characters.
“‘Hey, Spot!’
‘Smell my foot!’
‘Not again!’”
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
Brain wants his buddy Chick to smell his foot.
“‘Smell my foot!’
‘What?’
‘Smell my foot!’
‘No. I will not smell your foot.’
‘Oh, come on! Smell it!’
‘Smell it now!’
‘No. I will not smell your foot.’
‘But my foot smells good.’
‘My foot smells great!’
‘Maybe your foot smells good.’
‘Maybe your foot smells great.’
‘But I will not smell your foot until you say PLEASE.’
‘Like this: Please smell my foot.’
‘Oh! OK!’
‘SNIFF!’
‘Woo! That is something else!’
‘Now you can smell my foot!’
‘No, no, no! You must say PLEASE.’
‘Say please, and then I will smell your foot.’
(Brain scratches his head.)
‘Oh!’
‘Please smell my foot.’
‘That is much better!’
‘Now I will smell your foot.’
‘SNIFF!’”
Not all new readers have an easy time of it, or a natural passion for reading. For those who are struggling or reluctant, it helps to have noteworthy books to share, books that are crazy, silly, and fun.
Cece Bell’s CHICK AND BRAIN: SMELL MY FOOT! contains these elements that keep young readers reading. CHICK AND BRAIN (rhymes with Dick and Jane) turn the teaching of “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome” into a running joke worthy of a comedy team. It’s also a memorable friendship book in which Brain rescues the clueless Chick from becoming Spot the dog’s lunch, thanks to Brain having a stinky foot up his sleeve.
Brain is a sight to behold. Either he’s got a brain setting atop his head, looking like an Afro, or an Afro looking like a brain. Furthermore, he’s garbed in white boxers with red hearts and his hands and feet are attached by stick figure arms and legs. Unfolding in comic book format, through four chapters, this beginning reader is guaranteed to hold the attention of goofy, active six-year-olds.
I’m hoping we’ll see another book featuring this odd pair of characters.
“‘Hey, Spot!’
‘Smell my foot!’
‘Not again!’”
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
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March 28, 2020Umm this is a weird book. I think it will appeal to beginner readers because of the repetition.
February 2, 2025
Why on earth did I read it?! I’m this 🤏🏼 close to throwing up 😐
September 21, 2019
This book! Among other things the book addresses the hip, meme-ish trend of giving information and saying, “You’re welcome,” without anyone actually saying thank you. This early reader divided into four illustrated chapters is an irreverent look at manners. Brain is a big-footed guy wearing boxer shorts with hearts and he wants his buddy Chick to smell his foot. Chick is full of knowledge about manners. Chick refuses until Brain --who *looks* very smart with his gray matter exposed on top of his head, but Chick tells him he must *not* be very smart -- says “please.” The dialogue is displayed in talk bubbles in a comic strip format. Along comes Spot the dog who gets caught up in all the foot smelling and manners. Subtle art clues reveal that Spot loves the smell of Chick’s foot so much so that Spot invites Chick to his house for lunch. Brain literally “spots” the clues and realizes that something bad is afoot. A clever, witty, wacky tale for young readers. Sure to be a hit. Four and a half stars. Buy multiple copies!
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
December 23, 2019
This humorous early reader graphic novel tells the story of friends Chick and Brain. Chick is obsessed with manners and Brain can’t quite master them even though he LOOKS smart (there’s a big brain on top of his head). When a dog politely invites Chick over for lunch because Chicks smell yummy, Brain is smart enough to see the peril while Chick is distracted by manners. The story is relayed in panels with speech bubbles. Spare watercolor and ink illustrations that occasionally break frame keep the focus on the action while the simple text in speech bubbles will be manageable for newer readers. The chapters break the story in manageable chunks for readers who need a pause. This is funny, sweet and leaves the reader hoping to me Chick and Brain in further adventures. Highly Recommended.
February 25, 2020
Cece Bell wrote a hilarious early reader chapter book and we can’t get enough! It’s a Chick and Brain adventure called, Smell My Foot! It even won a Theodor Sues Geisel Honor! What’s so silly is that Brain is, well a brain with a huge afro looking brain and Chick is a chicken with an obsession for good manners. Brain and Chick have some communication challenges that will have you laughing out loud. The comic book format and silly illustrations will motivate even the most reluctant reader to pick it up and read. Cece, quite the clever writer, has her main characters, Chick and Brain rhyme with the old school characters Dick and Jane; what a way to bring early readers into the present! We are excited for the release of Chick and Brain’s 2nd book coming March 10, 2020!
March 6, 2020
This is hilarious, and I recommend it especially to anyone who has a kid just starting to read on their own, who could use the incentive of fabulously silly humor on top of an easily accessible format (basically, a simplified graphic novel). The first time I read this with my 6-year-old, he agreed to read one of the character's lines (shown in speech bubbles) while I read the other. But then he loved it SO much that he's read it out loud to all the members of the family again and again and insisted on reading ALL the characters (with fabulous dramatic expression) - and he laughs harder every time. So do I!
We've already preordered Book 2 in this series, and we can't wait. :)
We've already preordered Book 2 in this series, and we can't wait. :)
November 16, 2019
This early graphic novel format chapter book is a silly story featuring the characters of Brain (character with super big feet, body, and a large brain for hair) and Chick (character that is... well, a chick). Chick is a super polite character who expects all the characters to be super polite as well, nagging them until they are all super frustrated. Brain, who readers will expect to be super smart, doesn't come off that way except Brain is the only character who can infer danger. Another good one to use for inferring!
October 27, 2019
Super silly and fun humor in graphic novel format for early readers. The importance of general manners is the main theme and readers will enjoy the repetition as they read about a smelly foot! Readers will be pulling their shoes and socks off to replicate the actions of Chick and Brain. Hold your nose!
February 29, 2020
Hilarious. This is an easy reader with a story line that will keep adults and middle grade readers entertained as well. The Theodore Suess Geisel award is a treasure trove of books for younger and beginning readers who aren't always served directly by the awards that focus solely on either illustrations or text.
October 12, 2019
Such a hoot - lesson on manners and the “magic words” goes awry. Be sure to read the back cover, learning to read with Dick and Jane vs Chick and Brain - which, if you read it fast enough it sounds like chicken brain which makes me giggle!
March 2, 2020
Sometimes you just need to have fun with a story. This is a great book about understanding what a person is trying to tell you vs. being focused on what you are trying to tell them. I am pretty sure students will love the humor in this book even if adults might not.
March 7, 2020
Very similar to Dick and Jane books. Teaches basic mannerism using Thank you, your welcome and please many times. A good read for discussing patience with friends. Graphics make it a fun book. Could be used for a beginner reader as many sight words are used.
June 23, 2019
Your kids will be rolling on the ground with laughter!
September 8, 2019
Very silly, but also redemptive.
January 8, 2020
comic book style beginning reader
February 16, 2020
so funny! i think my kindergartners will love it! just don't smell brain's other foot!
July 9, 2024
Cece Bell says she learned to read with Dick and Jane and she hopes a new generation learns with Chick and Brain!
Chick has a serious thing about teaching Brain manners. Brain just wants Chick to smell his foot. This is funny and much more than teaching when to say something! This is the start of a beginning reader series. It is a 2020 Geisel Honor Award. I think I’ll try it out on my 5 year old grandson!
Chick has a serious thing about teaching Brain manners. Brain just wants Chick to smell his foot. This is funny and much more than teaching when to say something! This is the start of a beginning reader series. It is a 2020 Geisel Honor Award. I think I’ll try it out on my 5 year old grandson!
August 12, 2021
Chick and Brain is so very dumb, but it wears its dumbness on its sleeve so well that—somehow—it works.
May 2, 2020
This book is hilarious! Brian and Chick are the main characters who are ornery, to say the least. The only thing lacking from this book is manners. I read this book to my students and they laughed every time I turned the page. I enjoyed this book a lot and would reccomend.
January 15, 2023
Another success
March 5, 2020
A cute story about manners with a side of paying attention to your situation.
February 28, 2020
Goofy fun!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 181 reviews