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Bertie and the Alien Chicken
Bertie is NOT looking forward to spending the summer holidays on stinky Long Bottom Farm. But things take an interesting turn when he encounters Nugget, the alien chicken. Nugget's mission is to find the Earth's most important resource and transport it back to Nurgle 7, and he needs Bertie's help. But what could the Earth's most valuable resource be, and can they find it in time to stop the Nurgles exterminating the Earth?! A hilarious and heartfelt tale from Lollie-award-winning author Jenny Pearson.
93 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2023
6 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Pearson
36 books101 followersJenny Pearson is a technical writer and an artist who loves to write and draw. She enjoys working with kids, whether it's engaging them with arts and crafts activities, helping them learn basic concepts, or just inspiring cute moments. With loads of patience, sunny smiles, and a healthy dose of kindness, almost any day can be a great day.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 10, 2023
One Sentence Summary: Bertie doesn’t want to spend the summer at his uncle’s farm, but things get interesting when he meets an alien chicken and the fate of the Earth is in their hands/wings.
Son’s review:
I liked it. It was funny. It took place on a farm, so there was a chicken. The chicken is an alien, so it’s weird. I think I would read the next book if there is one.
My thoughts:
As you can see, my eight-year-old hasn’t quite mastered book reviewing, but getting him to read this book was kind of a feat all its own considering he forgot about it after I showed it to him on NetGalley and he said he’d be interested in reading it. I mean, it does take a bit for approvals to come through and an eight-year-old can have a short memory for things he doesn’t care for too much (video games, now, are a completely different story), so it meant I had to read the book, too. Alien chickens? Not really my thing, but my son liked it, even if he didn’t sound totally convinced of it when I made him tell me what he thought.
Bertie and the Alien Chicken occurs over the span of approximately a day. It starts with Bertie being dropped off at his uncle’s farm since his mum is off to America for work and his Dad and stepmother are busy with a new baby. I loved the way Bertie tried to get out of going to the farm, and it gave a small glimpse into how he felt about his parents no longer being together. At the farm, well, Bertie doesn’t have the greatest start, especially when he encounters the alien chicken. This really was the fun and funny part. Bertie is very much a young boy, and I could see why my son had a good time reading this part.
And then the second half of the story gets going, and I think this is where my son lost steam with the story. He’s still at the point where he likes funny things, especially when it comes to potty humor. But that kind of humor doesn’t really linger past the halfway mark. Oh, the chicken, nicknamed Nugget, is quite funny, but I don’t think it was the kind of funny my son appreciates yet. There’s something goofy and diabolical about it, especially when it comes to light that the chicken’s race, the Nurgles, will destroy Earth unless they get Earth’s most valuable resource. And so begins their race against time to figure that out, and then how to send intangible, abstract things to the Nurgles. I appreciated how it went into things like loneliness, jealousy, and hope, but that part just completely lost my son.
Bertie and the Alien Chicken is a cute book. After a strong, funny start, it evolved into a softer, cozier story about humanity and what’s really important to us. Did I think my son appreciated it? Not really, but maybe one day. As a parent, I quite liked it. It’s cute and offers some lessons on being a person living on Earth.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed belong to my son and me.
Son’s review:
I liked it. It was funny. It took place on a farm, so there was a chicken. The chicken is an alien, so it’s weird. I think I would read the next book if there is one.
My thoughts:
As you can see, my eight-year-old hasn’t quite mastered book reviewing, but getting him to read this book was kind of a feat all its own considering he forgot about it after I showed it to him on NetGalley and he said he’d be interested in reading it. I mean, it does take a bit for approvals to come through and an eight-year-old can have a short memory for things he doesn’t care for too much (video games, now, are a completely different story), so it meant I had to read the book, too. Alien chickens? Not really my thing, but my son liked it, even if he didn’t sound totally convinced of it when I made him tell me what he thought.
Bertie and the Alien Chicken occurs over the span of approximately a day. It starts with Bertie being dropped off at his uncle’s farm since his mum is off to America for work and his Dad and stepmother are busy with a new baby. I loved the way Bertie tried to get out of going to the farm, and it gave a small glimpse into how he felt about his parents no longer being together. At the farm, well, Bertie doesn’t have the greatest start, especially when he encounters the alien chicken. This really was the fun and funny part. Bertie is very much a young boy, and I could see why my son had a good time reading this part.
And then the second half of the story gets going, and I think this is where my son lost steam with the story. He’s still at the point where he likes funny things, especially when it comes to potty humor. But that kind of humor doesn’t really linger past the halfway mark. Oh, the chicken, nicknamed Nugget, is quite funny, but I don’t think it was the kind of funny my son appreciates yet. There’s something goofy and diabolical about it, especially when it comes to light that the chicken’s race, the Nurgles, will destroy Earth unless they get Earth’s most valuable resource. And so begins their race against time to figure that out, and then how to send intangible, abstract things to the Nurgles. I appreciated how it went into things like loneliness, jealousy, and hope, but that part just completely lost my son.
Bertie and the Alien Chicken is a cute book. After a strong, funny start, it evolved into a softer, cozier story about humanity and what’s really important to us. Did I think my son appreciated it? Not really, but maybe one day. As a parent, I quite liked it. It’s cute and offers some lessons on being a person living on Earth.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed belong to my son and me.
January 18, 2023
Bertie and the Alien Chicken is the new release from Barrington Stoke, and is a book that doesn't take itself too seriously, and sets out to just have some silly fun. The story follows Bertie, a young boy who has been told that he's going to have to spend the summer holidays with his uncle Brian, who runs a farm in the middle of the countryside. Bertie's mother is having to travel to America on business, and his father left a few years ago and can't take Bertie in because of his newborn baby. The problem is, Bertie really doesn't want to spend time on his uncles farm.
However, soon after arriving Bertie accidentally discovers that one of the chickens on the farm can talk. Thinking he might be going mad, Bertie is surprised to discover that the chicken is actually an alien called Nugget, and that he's come to Earth to find out what the most valuable resource is. And if he doesn't get it, the planet gets blown up.
Bertie and the Alien Chicken is a book that has a lot of humour to it. From the very first pages it's clear that this is a book where jokes and silliness is high on the list of priorities. And thankfully, it pretty much lands perfect every single time. Yes, this is a children's book and the humour is designed for younger readers, but many of the jokes actually had me chuckling too. Jenny Pearson clearly knows that parents are going to be reading books to their kids, or reading along with them, so the book needs to be funny in a way that isn't going to be getting the adults reading it rolling their eyes. And the book manages to do that. There are some things that are a bit too silly, but kids will love, but for the most part it was enjoyable and amusing to read as an adult.
This is something that I think helps this book a lot too, that it's not treated too seriously or too realistically. There are many Barrington Stoke books that are much more serious in tone and feel quite realistic; this is not one of them. It forgoes the desire to be realistic in order to be fun; and it certainly manages to be that.
The book comes with a number of illustrations, by Aleksei Bitskoff, and the artwork works really well with the tone of the book. Everything is a bit cartoonish, a bit exaggerated, and the artworks puts me in mind of some fun kids shows. The art is used to help kids get a good visual idea for the story and characters, but there are a few times that the art is also used for some visual gags. Much like the written ones, these are fun moments that are sure to make kids laugh aloud, and the adults smile along with it.
Overall Bertie and the Alien Chicken was a lot of fun. It's a nice story about making friends, and about personal introspection at times too, and it's a genuinely entertaining and enjoyable experience.
However, soon after arriving Bertie accidentally discovers that one of the chickens on the farm can talk. Thinking he might be going mad, Bertie is surprised to discover that the chicken is actually an alien called Nugget, and that he's come to Earth to find out what the most valuable resource is. And if he doesn't get it, the planet gets blown up.
Bertie and the Alien Chicken is a book that has a lot of humour to it. From the very first pages it's clear that this is a book where jokes and silliness is high on the list of priorities. And thankfully, it pretty much lands perfect every single time. Yes, this is a children's book and the humour is designed for younger readers, but many of the jokes actually had me chuckling too. Jenny Pearson clearly knows that parents are going to be reading books to their kids, or reading along with them, so the book needs to be funny in a way that isn't going to be getting the adults reading it rolling their eyes. And the book manages to do that. There are some things that are a bit too silly, but kids will love, but for the most part it was enjoyable and amusing to read as an adult.
This is something that I think helps this book a lot too, that it's not treated too seriously or too realistically. There are many Barrington Stoke books that are much more serious in tone and feel quite realistic; this is not one of them. It forgoes the desire to be realistic in order to be fun; and it certainly manages to be that.
The book comes with a number of illustrations, by Aleksei Bitskoff, and the artwork works really well with the tone of the book. Everything is a bit cartoonish, a bit exaggerated, and the artworks puts me in mind of some fun kids shows. The art is used to help kids get a good visual idea for the story and characters, but there are a few times that the art is also used for some visual gags. Much like the written ones, these are fun moments that are sure to make kids laugh aloud, and the adults smile along with it.
Overall Bertie and the Alien Chicken was a lot of fun. It's a nice story about making friends, and about personal introspection at times too, and it's a genuinely entertaining and enjoyable experience.
August 9, 2023
Bertie has a list of all the reasons staying on his uncle's farm while his mum is away, is a bad idea.
It stinks!
It's in the country with absolutely nothing to do.
None of his friends will be there.
And last but not least, Uncle Brian is weird...
Mum has to admit that last bit might be true, but there is no way she is changing her mind. Bertie is quickly left behind facing Uncle Brian who is waiting to shake his hand. Which is covered in cow poo. Not going to happen, thinks Bertie.
Thankfully Uncle Brian laughs it off and returns to his work on the farm. Which is when a chicken flies into Bertie's face. He can't believe it. Cow poo hands and now attacking chickens! His screams are ignored, and so no-one else hears the chicken when it speaks to Bertie.
This is no ordinary chicken. He is a Nurgle from a far away planet, and if Bertie doesn't help him in his mission on Earth, his superiors will blast Earth from the sky! Bertie can't believe it. He alone is responsible for the entire Earth's survival?
Reluctantly, he steps up to the challenge, and in the process he makes a friend, gets to know his uncle, sorts out some secret stuff he's been dealing with and meets many more Nurgles.
Saving Earth is just a bonus.
With such a random title, I wondered what I would discover as I read this book. Bertie and the Alien Chicken is hilarious, sweet, touching and thought provoking too as main character city kid Bertie and an alien disguised as a chicken learn about what is most important in life on Earth.
The internet tells them data is the most valuable resource, but as Bertie and Nugget the Nurgle get to know each other, they learn why this can be true and untrue at the same time. This is an engaging story about many things that are hugely important to humans but cannot be packaged up and sent somewhere else - much to an alien's confusion.
A funny quick read, perfect for reluctant or dyslexic readers, with illustrations throughout the story depicting the action on Long Bottom Farm.
Author - Jenny Pearson
Illustrator - Aleski Bitskoff
Reluctant Reader/ Dyslexic Read
Reading Age - 8 / Interest Age 9+
It stinks!
It's in the country with absolutely nothing to do.
None of his friends will be there.
And last but not least, Uncle Brian is weird...
Mum has to admit that last bit might be true, but there is no way she is changing her mind. Bertie is quickly left behind facing Uncle Brian who is waiting to shake his hand. Which is covered in cow poo. Not going to happen, thinks Bertie.
Thankfully Uncle Brian laughs it off and returns to his work on the farm. Which is when a chicken flies into Bertie's face. He can't believe it. Cow poo hands and now attacking chickens! His screams are ignored, and so no-one else hears the chicken when it speaks to Bertie.
This is no ordinary chicken. He is a Nurgle from a far away planet, and if Bertie doesn't help him in his mission on Earth, his superiors will blast Earth from the sky! Bertie can't believe it. He alone is responsible for the entire Earth's survival?
Reluctantly, he steps up to the challenge, and in the process he makes a friend, gets to know his uncle, sorts out some secret stuff he's been dealing with and meets many more Nurgles.
Saving Earth is just a bonus.
With such a random title, I wondered what I would discover as I read this book. Bertie and the Alien Chicken is hilarious, sweet, touching and thought provoking too as main character city kid Bertie and an alien disguised as a chicken learn about what is most important in life on Earth.
The internet tells them data is the most valuable resource, but as Bertie and Nugget the Nurgle get to know each other, they learn why this can be true and untrue at the same time. This is an engaging story about many things that are hugely important to humans but cannot be packaged up and sent somewhere else - much to an alien's confusion.
A funny quick read, perfect for reluctant or dyslexic readers, with illustrations throughout the story depicting the action on Long Bottom Farm.
Author - Jenny Pearson
Illustrator - Aleski Bitskoff
Reluctant Reader/ Dyslexic Read
Reading Age - 8 / Interest Age 9+
January 5, 2023
Is it a silly book about an alien chicken threatening to destroy the earth or a sweet book about understanding emotions and how we feel?
Well, it's Jenny Pearson so it easily manages to be both!
Bertie has been sent to his uncle's farm while his mum goes on holiday to America. He's not keen on this idea, because farms are smelly and boring, but that's before he meets a talking alien that has accidentally taken the form of a chicken due to a slight misunderstanding upon landing. Now Bertie only has until the end of the day to find earth's most valuable resource or the whole planet will be destroyed!
Cue a hilarious and heart-warming mission to find earth's most valuable resource while stuck in a muddy and smelly farmyard. Bertie and the Alien Chicken smoothly turns into a discussion around feely-things, intangible things like loneliness, dreams and happiness provide some fascinating insights into what makes us human and how to understand our feelings, something that I'm sure will work well in many classrooms and for bedroom stories.
A sweet, funny and thoroughly engaging book from Barrington Stoke, the industry experts at creating short, accessible books perfect for reluctant readers, people with reading difficulties or anyone who just wants to dip into a short, easy to read book.
Well, it's Jenny Pearson so it easily manages to be both!
Bertie has been sent to his uncle's farm while his mum goes on holiday to America. He's not keen on this idea, because farms are smelly and boring, but that's before he meets a talking alien that has accidentally taken the form of a chicken due to a slight misunderstanding upon landing. Now Bertie only has until the end of the day to find earth's most valuable resource or the whole planet will be destroyed!
Cue a hilarious and heart-warming mission to find earth's most valuable resource while stuck in a muddy and smelly farmyard. Bertie and the Alien Chicken smoothly turns into a discussion around feely-things, intangible things like loneliness, dreams and happiness provide some fascinating insights into what makes us human and how to understand our feelings, something that I'm sure will work well in many classrooms and for bedroom stories.
A sweet, funny and thoroughly engaging book from Barrington Stoke, the industry experts at creating short, accessible books perfect for reluctant readers, people with reading difficulties or anyone who just wants to dip into a short, easy to read book.
April 14, 2023
This is the first Jennie Pearson book I've read and it won't be the last. I also have a great love for Barrington Stoke books as they are suitable for so many children. I love introducing children to these books - both those needing the coloured paper, special text and line spacing and those who are new to chapter books or have a problem with larger books.
The book is funny yet includes lots of family issues. Bertie is on the way to his Uncle Brian's farm when we meet him and he is not happy about it. Mum has a work trip to America and he has to stay on a farm! A smelly farm! He has lots of reasons he shouldn't have to! He can't go to Dad's - he has a new baby.
When they arrive, Mum is already late. So she leaves quickly. Bertie smells the farmyard smell as soon as he gets out of the car! Uncle Brian tells him to swap his trainers for wellies, as he's going inside he's hit on the head by a chicken - who he screams at, then says sorry - but the chicken says "I should think so!" A talking chicken!
Bertie is followed by the chicken to help move the cows, and then when metal detecting later. Turns out the chicken isn't quite what it seems.
Bertie learns a lot about himself and his feelings in this story.
I would love to get this for school.
The book is funny yet includes lots of family issues. Bertie is on the way to his Uncle Brian's farm when we meet him and he is not happy about it. Mum has a work trip to America and he has to stay on a farm! A smelly farm! He has lots of reasons he shouldn't have to! He can't go to Dad's - he has a new baby.
When they arrive, Mum is already late. So she leaves quickly. Bertie smells the farmyard smell as soon as he gets out of the car! Uncle Brian tells him to swap his trainers for wellies, as he's going inside he's hit on the head by a chicken - who he screams at, then says sorry - but the chicken says "I should think so!" A talking chicken!
Bertie is followed by the chicken to help move the cows, and then when metal detecting later. Turns out the chicken isn't quite what it seems.
Bertie learns a lot about himself and his feelings in this story.
I would love to get this for school.
January 22, 2023
A great story by Jenny Pearson which made me laugh out loud in several places. Bertie is staying with his uncle on a farm during the holidays and is not pleased about it, but it gets more interesting when he finds himself meeting an alien chicken. together they have to find earths most valuable resource before the aliens destroy earth. Working together they find the value of friendship along the way and Bertie discovers life isn't as bad as he thought on the farm. A lovely read for children of all ages but especially age 7 up who will love the short chapters and humour.
March 13, 2023
Enjoyable story that was also humorous for adults.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews