I’m NOT the polite chicken. I’m the cranky chicken.
Everything about Chicken is cranky. Cranky eyes, cranky eyebrows, super-sharp cranky beak, even cranky scratchy feet. And everything makes Chicken cranky. The sun is too bright, the dirt is too dirty.
What Cranky Chicken is not is lonely. Nope, nope, definitely not. But then along comes a very cheerful worm named Speedy, who just wants to be friends.
Cranky Chicken is the first book in a charming illustrated series about mismatched friends who bring joy, companionship and a new perspective to each other’s lives. Perfect for fans of Elephant and Piggie and The Bad Guys.
Katherine Battersby is a critically acclaimed Australian children’s author and illustrator of eight picture books, including Squish Rabbit, a CBC Children’s Choice Book. Her picture books have also been shortlisted for numerous awards, including the Crichton Award and the CBCA Book of the Year Awards. Cranky Chicken is the first extremely funny story in Battersby’s new charmingly illustrated series.
When reading the title of this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect … especially not the unlikely pairing of a cranky chicken and a cheerful worm. While unlikely, they’ve become my favourite character duo of the year!
Cranky Chicken and Speedy Worm prove that the foundation for a truly great friendship is learning to accept someone just the way they are. These two opposites balance each other out, while their similarities complement each other. Ultimately, with or without wings, you can learn to soar and fly by being true to yourself and to others – this message couldn’t be more important.
Cranky Chicken is perfect for newly independent readers aged 6+. Battersby’s vivid illustrations and clever dialogue will have you hooked from the very first page, warming your heart and making you laugh – I know it did for me.





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