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Chicken and Cat Clean Up
Sara Varon follows up on her irresistible CHICKEN AND CAT with a new tale about the fabulously sweet and charming duo.
When Chicken starts his own housekeeping business, he hires Cat to help him out. It's tough going at first. No matter how hard Cat tries, he is clumsy and keeps making mistakes, which causes Chicken to be upset and Cat very sad. Finally Cat listens to his inner-species calling when he bravely catches a mouse thief. The two friends make amends and decide to start a brand-new business called Chicken and Cat's Housekeeping and Mousecatching Services. This story about friendship and listening to one's heart is perfect for friends new or old.
When Chicken starts his own housekeeping business, he hires Cat to help him out. It's tough going at first. No matter how hard Cat tries, he is clumsy and keeps making mistakes, which causes Chicken to be upset and Cat very sad. Finally Cat listens to his inner-species calling when he bravely catches a mouse thief. The two friends make amends and decide to start a brand-new business called Chicken and Cat's Housekeeping and Mousecatching Services. This story about friendship and listening to one's heart is perfect for friends new or old.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2009
152 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 15, 2024
Os livros infantis da Sara Varon seguem o mesmo princípio das novelas gráficas de uso exclusivo de linguagem visual, o que torna as coisas ainda mais próximas da sofisticação de certos cineastas do cinema mudo.
Nesses dois livrinhos de Chicken and Cat ela outra vez discorre sobre a amizade, o primeiro a respeito do florescimento da mesma e o segundo sobre o respeito às diferenças. São bem bonitos.
Tem ambos os livros para emprestar na biblioteca do archive.org.
Nesses dois livrinhos de Chicken and Cat ela outra vez discorre sobre a amizade, o primeiro a respeito do florescimento da mesma e o segundo sobre o respeito às diferenças. São bem bonitos.
Tem ambos os livros para emprestar na biblioteca do archive.org.
July 21, 2017
Another wordless wonder by Sara Varon!
This adventure features the roommates heading out to clean a house for Chicken's Housekeeping Services. Chicken is very skilled at cleaning; Cat . . . not so much.
In fact, Cat is so BAD at tidying, he's banished to wait outside on the stoop. And, there Cat manages to find where his talents really lie.
Loved this one, particularly the last drawing of Cat taking his new pet turtle home in the car - it has its head hanging out the window like a dog! (I know, I know - I'm easily amused!)
This adventure features the roommates heading out to clean a house for Chicken's Housekeeping Services. Chicken is very skilled at cleaning; Cat . . . not so much.
In fact, Cat is so BAD at tidying, he's banished to wait outside on the stoop. And, there Cat manages to find where his talents really lie.
Loved this one, particularly the last drawing of Cat taking his new pet turtle home in the car - it has its head hanging out the window like a dog! (I know, I know - I'm easily amused!)
August 9, 2022
Great wordless picture book by one of my favorite author/illustrators, Sara Varon. Perfect for a lap-sit read with an adult and child - where they can talk about emotions, action & sequencing, and cause & effect. A child who can not yet read can add their own words, essentially telling the story.
April 18, 2011
Sara Varon, Chicken and Cat Clean Up (Scholastic, 2009)
Every time I bring this book to mind again (I read it a week and a half ago and have been letting it rattle around in my head ever since), I can't get past comparing it to the movie Sunshine Cleaning, which couches so many of the same themes in a decidedly more adult (and more destructive) milieu. Because of this, you probably already have a handle on the (wordless) story: chicken and cat go into the cleaning business together, but cat is clumsy and keeps messing things up, so their employer sends him outside (so as not to cause any more damage), and he ends up finding something he's good at doing while pondering his future in the cleaning business. Very nicely done, very cute, and I wish I'd jotted down on the spreadsheet that it was a sequel so I could've read the first book first. No matter, though; because it's wordless, could be a hit with just about any age, from pre-readers who will be enchanted by Varon's color schemes to those who find themselves too old for kids' books but are just starting to discover graphic novels and manga. *** 1/2
Every time I bring this book to mind again (I read it a week and a half ago and have been letting it rattle around in my head ever since), I can't get past comparing it to the movie Sunshine Cleaning, which couches so many of the same themes in a decidedly more adult (and more destructive) milieu. Because of this, you probably already have a handle on the (wordless) story: chicken and cat go into the cleaning business together, but cat is clumsy and keeps messing things up, so their employer sends him outside (so as not to cause any more damage), and he ends up finding something he's good at doing while pondering his future in the cleaning business. Very nicely done, very cute, and I wish I'd jotted down on the spreadsheet that it was a sequel so I could've read the first book first. No matter, though; because it's wordless, could be a hit with just about any age, from pre-readers who will be enchanted by Varon's color schemes to those who find themselves too old for kids' books but are just starting to discover graphic novels and manga. *** 1/2
June 8, 2017
Cats are not natural cleaners, but they are excellent crime-fighters.
October 25, 2010
YAY. Friendship, different people with different gifts, rat-catching and lady-bug saving. Sara Varon keeps it super-simple, but fills her characters with unique qualities, and adds details (on milk cartons, in eye movements) just where they need to be to make a super-great wordless story for 3 and 30 year old alike. The Best, says me.
June 1, 2009
Another fun wordless book from Sara Varon. I love how Cat tries to help Chicken with his/her/? housecleaning service, but everything Cat does makes the situation worse. Cat finally redeems himself/herself/? by doing what cats do well - catching a bad mouse. I like the clean illustrations.
February 19, 2017
“Chicken and Cat Clean up” by Sara Varon is a wordless picture book. Throughout the story, two friends Cat and Chicken are required to go to work as housekeepers. They run into some trouble when they accidentally drop a plate while doing dishes, or add too much soap to the laundry machine causing it to overflow. For that reason, they are fired and kicked out on the streets. Shortly after, they see a mouse robbing people on the streets and they catch him and turn him in. They later are rewarded.
This book is filled with bright and vivid illustrations. The entire book contains double page spreads with pictures covering the entirety of the pages. There are no words except occasional onomonopias such as “crash” or “plop” to represent an accident occurring. Some of the pages have almost a graphic novel style and contain some panels and gutters. This is to represent the passing of time and the reader is supposed to imply what is happening in between the images. There are also words indicating street names, building names, or company names- but there is no dialogue or narrative.
This book is filled with bright and vivid illustrations. The entire book contains double page spreads with pictures covering the entirety of the pages. There are no words except occasional onomonopias such as “crash” or “plop” to represent an accident occurring. Some of the pages have almost a graphic novel style and contain some panels and gutters. This is to represent the passing of time and the reader is supposed to imply what is happening in between the images. There are also words indicating street names, building names, or company names- but there is no dialogue or narrative.
April 3, 2018
Literature Requirement: Wordless book
Genre: Fiction
Book Format: Hardcover
Number of pages
Grade level: P-5
Copyright: 2009 Sara Varon
Unlike Chicken, Cat is not a morning person and he is definitely not a good housekeeper. Chicken has his own housekeeping service and Cat goes along to help. Cat just seems to make more messes though which frustrates his friend. He finally gets kicked out of the house they're cleaning when he tries to eat the homeowners plant. Sitting outside he sees a mouse still a ladybug's purse and steps in to save the day. . He takes the thief to jail, claims a reward, and buys a new friend. His friend Chicken also decides to share his business with him in the end.
Not everyone is good at everything, which is a point I think this book tried to make. Cat may be a terrible housekeeper but he is good at catching criminal mouses. Another point I think is important is helping others when they need it. Cat was having a bad day but he still stepped in to help the little ladybug. The illustrations are well done and the expressions on the character's faces are key to the story. The story is entertaining and easy to understand.
Genre: Fiction
Book Format: Hardcover
Number of pages
Grade level: P-5
Copyright: 2009 Sara Varon
Unlike Chicken, Cat is not a morning person and he is definitely not a good housekeeper. Chicken has his own housekeeping service and Cat goes along to help. Cat just seems to make more messes though which frustrates his friend. He finally gets kicked out of the house they're cleaning when he tries to eat the homeowners plant. Sitting outside he sees a mouse still a ladybug's purse and steps in to save the day. . He takes the thief to jail, claims a reward, and buys a new friend. His friend Chicken also decides to share his business with him in the end.
Not everyone is good at everything, which is a point I think this book tried to make. Cat may be a terrible housekeeper but he is good at catching criminal mouses. Another point I think is important is helping others when they need it. Cat was having a bad day but he still stepped in to help the little ladybug. The illustrations are well done and the expressions on the character's faces are key to the story. The story is entertaining and easy to understand.
June 30, 2017
Meh not a fan of making up my own stories even with pics that help you along the way. It just doesn't come that easy to me.
February 25, 2018
we named the cat sneezy and decided we would use their cleaning service even though they were a bit inept! laundry and dishes :) we guessed they would do windows too
February 25, 2022
This nearly wordless book tells the tale of Chicken who starts a cleaning business, and Cat, who tries to help but is a bit inept. Cat finds his way to help in the end. Very cute!
October 10, 2015
Chicken and Cat is about Chicken's cleaning service that he opened with his best friend, Cat. They are hired to go clean Elephant's house. Chicken does a great job, but Cat keeps breaking things, and making a mess instead of cleaning up. He gets kicked out of the house, and is sad. He doesn't feel like he can do anything until he helps a Ladybug get her purse back that was stolen by a mouse.
This book helps children realize that they are not good at everything, but that is okay. Children often get discouraged when they want to do something someone else is doing but they aren't very good at it. Even without words, this book helps children understand this concept.
Many people do not like wordless picture books, but I feel like this one is more powerful than if it did have words. It helps children's imagination and critical thinking skills when they have to imagine what is happening by themselves.
This book helps children realize that they are not good at everything, but that is okay. Children often get discouraged when they want to do something someone else is doing but they aren't very good at it. Even without words, this book helps children understand this concept.
Many people do not like wordless picture books, but I feel like this one is more powerful than if it did have words. It helps children's imagination and critical thinking skills when they have to imagine what is happening by themselves.
September 13, 2012
Chicken and Cat Clean Up is a story of two best friends that show the reader what friendship and perseverance is all about. Even without words, this book is meaningful and gets the main message across to the readers. The illustrations as so detailed and well done that it is easy for the reader to follow the story without much difficulty. Young students would be able to look at the pictures and make accurate predictions of what is going on in the story. A wordless book like this one can be used to encourage students to pick up books and look through them even if they do not know how to read; this will hopefully teach students to love books when the time comes for them to start reading. Overall, I enjoyed the multiple meaningful messages this book gave to the reader, the details and colorful illustrations, and the story of these two best friends.
January 8, 2013
01 February 2013
Chicken And Cat Clean Up follows the adorable duo Chicken and Cat as they start up a new cleaning business venture. Free-spirited and careless Cat fumbles through the job while testing poor Chicken's patience. Cat begins to feel like a hopeless case until he rescues someone from trouble and ends up finding his true calling.
I found Cat's clumsiness so endearing and was touched with how Chicken accepted it. Everyone is different with their own unique talents. You just need to allow them their own time to shine. The friendship between Chicken and Cat is so sweet. I love how Chicken adjusted the business for Cat's unique abilities. Accepting someone as they are for whoever they are is the greatest gift indeed.
Chicken And Cat Clean Up follows the adorable duo Chicken and Cat as they start up a new cleaning business venture. Free-spirited and careless Cat fumbles through the job while testing poor Chicken's patience. Cat begins to feel like a hopeless case until he rescues someone from trouble and ends up finding his true calling.
I found Cat's clumsiness so endearing and was touched with how Chicken accepted it. Everyone is different with their own unique talents. You just need to allow them their own time to shine. The friendship between Chicken and Cat is so sweet. I love how Chicken adjusted the business for Cat's unique abilities. Accepting someone as they are for whoever they are is the greatest gift indeed.
January 12, 2013
I really like Sara Varon's art style, so I already liked this book before I read it. It didn't blow me away like Robot Dreams or Sweaterweather, but it was nice to read and would be a great wordless-ish picture book for kids who aren't confident enough for stories with lots of words. There are words in this book, but they are mostly incidental. They are on the signs in the background, and aren't necessary for understanding the story until the very last page, when the sign on the van changes.
Because it requires reading at the end, it isn't a pure wordless picture book that will boost reading confidence in children who can't read English at all, since the change that happens by the end of the book is revealed using text.
Because it requires reading at the end, it isn't a pure wordless picture book that will boost reading confidence in children who can't read English at all, since the change that happens by the end of the book is revealed using text.
August 1, 2017
No words. The pictures are enough to tell the story.
January 19, 2015
Summary: "When Chicken starts his own housekeeping business, he hires Cat to help him out. It's tough going at first. No matter how hard Cat tries, he is clumsy and keeps making mistakes, which causes Chicken to be upset and Cat very sad. Finally Cat listens to his inner-species calling when he bravely catches a mouse thief. The two friends make amends and decide to start a brand-new business called Chicken and Cat's Housekeeping and Mousecatching Services. This story about friendship and listening to one's heart is perfect for friends new or old." Amazon
Pub: 2009
Theme: friendship, using your gifts, cooperation, shared goals
Library Use: Retelling, complete sentences
Pub: 2009
Theme: friendship, using your gifts, cooperation, shared goals
Library Use: Retelling, complete sentences
January 19, 2013
The characters of Chicken and Cat are further developed in this follow up picture book. Chicken and Cat have a cleaning business and while Chicken is capable, Cat proves to make a bigger mess of things. Eventually Cat gets thrown outside, but manages to catch a criminal, becoming a hero. The reward money helps Cat realize a dream begun earlier that day of pet ownership.
Funny and well told. I love the way this author/artist handles characterization.
Funny and well told. I love the way this author/artist handles characterization.
April 10, 2009
I liked the original much, much, much, much better, although this was still fun and nicely-drawn. It just wasn't as...well, transcendental as the original, I guess. I reviewed this here, if anyone's super-interested:
http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/04/03/...
http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/04/03/...
June 4, 2010
In this wordless picture book., readers will delight in the antics of Chicken and Cat. They are an animal Odd Couple.
What I thought: Varon's pictures are so detailed, I didn't miss the words at all. This book would be perfect for a preschool story time as the children could tell the story based on the pictures.
What I thought: Varon's pictures are so detailed, I didn't miss the words at all. This book would be perfect for a preschool story time as the children could tell the story based on the pictures.
December 2, 2009
Poor Cat is not the best worker for a housekeeping service, but is very well intentioned and finds his niche. This story-told-in-pictures has a fun and surprisingly detailed plot.
There is some text: exclamations on the part of both Chicken and Cat, labels, and other text.
Great for young lapsitters.
There is some text: exclamations on the part of both Chicken and Cat, labels, and other text.
Great for young lapsitters.
Read
September 29, 2013This is a really cute book that leaves a lot of the plot line up to imagination. There is a cat and chicken who go to clean houses but make a big mess and get kicked out and then somehow they catch a thief and get money from the police for it and then paint a van. I'm not entirely sure everything that's happening and why, but that is the fun of the book. It helps kids to use their imagination.
March 6, 2009
Wordless picture books are wonderful especially when they offer as much variety as this one. Any child with an imagination could find countless ways to tell this story.
Sadly, wordless picture books don't work so well in most storytimes :(
Sadly, wordless picture books don't work so well in most storytimes :(
May 3, 2009
From the author of Robot Dreams, this is another wordless book. I haven't read the first installment (Chicken and Cat) but this one is super cute even as a stand-alone. The two friends run a cleaning business, but Cat is sort of a disaster...until a purse-snatching mouse comes along...
May 14, 2009
A wordless picture book that would be great to practice narrative skills. Chicken has a cleaning agency and Chicken's friend Cat wants to help but Cat is clumsy and causes more havoc then help. In the end, though, Cat saves the day.
November 18, 2009
Genre: Fantasy: Picture Book
The story of Chicken and Cat's cleaning business is told through pictures without narration. Cat is not particularly good at the cleaning business, and Chicken gets a bit frustrated with him, but he eventually finds a new task that he is quite good at performing.
The story of Chicken and Cat's cleaning business is told through pictures without narration. Cat is not particularly good at the cleaning business, and Chicken gets a bit frustrated with him, but he eventually finds a new task that he is quite good at performing.
September 24, 2010
From one of my favorite author/illustrators, Chicken and Cat Clean Up is a charming book about how two unlikely friends are able to create a win-win situation from an otherwise distressing day. This book is also about finding your niche. A delightful read!
September 26, 2011
I loved this book. It's basically wordless but the illustrations tell the story and I think it's a wonderful way for children to make up their own lines for this story. My 3 year old loved "reading" it to me.
July 10, 2012
I love a good story told through the action taking place in the illustrations. This one is charming and has great potential for pre-emergent readers to exercise their ability to read the story. Combine this story with a felt board or puppet reenactment activity for big laughs.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews