Book on Chickens
Davis's familiar character-collectibles, Big Jack and Goldie, come to life in this enchanting, full-color story of two chickens in love. The clever, superbly illustrated story takes us through the courtship, marriage, and parenthood of a loving couple holding firmly to their traditional values. The story takes place on a farm in Southwest Missouri, "far from the big cities, snuggled in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains," similar to the one where the author lives.
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Davis's familiar character-collectibles, Big Jack and Goldie, come to life in this enchanting full-color story of two chickens in love. Publishers Weekly Big Jack the rooster's farmyard romance and marriage to the beautiful hen Goldie is documented at length in this self-consciously nostalgic story. A large cast of characters, among them rival Willy the Wyandotte, various gossipy hens and Dr. Stanley the chicken-house mouse, look on as true love leads to ``eight tiny balls of fluff.'' The proud parents parade their offspring around the farm, ending the tour in the studio of ``Mr. Lowell'' (the author-artist), apparently to showcase more of the author's art in a six-page mini-show; ``You might even call it the `Chicken Hall of Fame,' '' says Big Jack. Ironically, the naturalistic paintings reveal the shortcomings of the overly cute, anthropomorphized illustrations in the rest of the book. Employing adult humor and sensibilities, Davis's long, episodic tale may find an audience among chicken-lovers and rural nostalgia buffs. The hand-lettered text, another element of the book's affectation, proves quite difficult to read. All ages. (Aug.)
\ Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly\ Big Jack the rooster's farmyard romance and marriage to the beautiful hen Goldie is documented at length in this self-consciously nostalgic story. A large cast of characters, among them rival Willy the Wyandotte, various gossipy hens and Dr. Stanley the chicken-house mouse, look on as true love leads to ``eight tiny balls of fluff.'' The proud parents parade their offspring around the farm, ending the tour in the studio of ``Mr. Lowell'' (the author-artist), apparently to showcase more of the author's art in a six-page mini-show; ``You might even call it the `Chicken Hall of Fame,' '' says Big Jack. Ironically, the naturalistic paintings reveal the shortcomings of the overly cute, anthropomorphized illustrations in the rest of the book. Employing adult humor and sensibilities, Davis's long, episodic tale may find an audience among chicken-lovers and rural nostalgia buffs. The hand-lettered text, another element of the book's affectation, proves quite difficult to read. All ages. (Aug.)\ \
