The Trouble with Chickens by Doreen Cronin

Cronin, Doreen. 2011. The Trouble with Chickens: A J.J. Tully Mystery. Illus by Kevin Cornell. ISBN: 9780061215322

Grades (2?) 3 – 5

For young readers that enjoy a good mystery, this book will certainly please! J.J. Tully is a retired Search and Rescue dog that is just trying to relax in his retirement when a chicken comes to him for help in finding one, no wait, two, of her chicks. With her promise of pay (a cheeseburger) Tully begins to collect clues and before he knows it, and of the chickens are missing and he is in need of rescuing!

Cronin’s dry wit is clearly shown in Tully’s thoughts, words, and deeds as well as her descriptions and even the name of the arch-enemy, Vince the Funnel. The book reads like an adult mystery in its presentation of deadpan first person commentary from Tully and yet Cronin gives her young audience their due by crafting a mystery that is child friendly in the story line. Short, concise sentences remind one of late night Humphrey Bogart movies while word play, puns and similes run rampant throughout this small chapter book. How easily this book will become a teacher’s best friend in teaching these concepts as well as visualization techniques.

…this chick had already learned that life outside the shell is not all it was cracked up to be. (pg. 12

The rug carried me like a sled. (pg. 71)

He had a long, skinny build, beady eyes, and a giant white funnel around his neck.

He looked like a cross between a dachshund and a lamp. Vince the funnel. (pg. 37)

I could go on but since this book is just crammed with these literary devices, I hesitate to recommend it to children below third grade except for gifted readers.Then again, children learn through reading and this is a great story for a young reader to discover the wonderful play of words and how it enriches the reading experience.

A great little story that should be considered for a collection, either in a library or classroom, as it is a tongue-in-check mystery that is greatly different than Cam Jansen, A to Z Mysteries, and Nate the Great.