Chickenhare

by Chris Grine

Overview

Chickenhare: half chicken, half rabbit, 100% hero! What's a chickenhare? A cross between a chicken and a rabbit, of course. And that makes Chickenhare the rarest animal around! So when he and his turtle friend Abe are captured and sold to the evil taxidermist Klaus, they've got to find a way to escape before Klaus turns them into stuffed animals. With the help of two other strange creatures, Banjo and Meg, they might even get away. But with Klaus and his thugs hot on their trail, the adventure is only just beginning for this unlikely quartet of friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545600163
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	05/28/2013
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	28 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Chris Grine is an artist and writer for Hallmark where he creates humorous greeting cards. CHICKENHARE was nominated for an Eisner Award for best publication for a younger audience in 2007. Chris lives in Kansas City, Missouri with his wife and their 4-year-old daughter.

Editorial Reviews

Witty comebacks, fast pacing, and a demented taxidermist—Grine’s debut has it all. First published by Dark Horse and now available in a new, full-color edition, the book stars Chickenhare, a smart-alecky rabbit with chicken legs and feathers, who has been abducted along with gullible Abe, a bearded box turtle. Rare creatures both, they are being taken to twisted taxidermist Klaus, who kills his animals to ensure they won’t leave him (“Why don’t my pets return my love, Fingerbones?” he asks his butler querulously). Banjo and Meg, two other taxidermy prospects (whose real identities are only hinted at), help Chickenhare and Abe escape and give Chickenhare the chance to free a tormented soul. This is no picnic of a story—it involves a decaying goat carcass, inadvertent cannibalism, and a truly unbalanced villain—but humor always tempers the horror. “You keep that filthy tail out of my face or I’ll cut it off!” Meg snaps at Banjo. “I think someone needs a nap!” Banjo says archly to the camera. Strong, simple lines establish the strange characters and polar setting with authority. A sequel can’t come too soon. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for CHICKENHARE
"Fun, witty characters and sharp drawings bring Chickenhare to life, but something dark lurks just beneath the surface. A mysterious and whimsical adventure that quickly leads us down the rabbit hole . . ."--Jeff Smith, creator of BONE

"I loved Chickenhare. Chris Grine has a delightfully deranged imagination, and he knows how to tell one heck of a good story."--Stan Saki, creator of Usagi Yojimbo

From the Publisher

Gr 3–5—This entertaining graphic novel is part chicken, part hare, part comedy, part adventure. After escaping the evil clutches of taxidermist/collector Mr. Klaus, species hybrid ChickenHare and his friends are on the run. Along the way they encounter Mr. Buttons, a ghost goat with an ax to grind against Klaus. In the inevitable good vs. evil showdown, Klaus gets his comeuppance at the hands (and paws and hooves) of our heroes. Regardless of the "ya had to be there" plot involving reincarnated livestock, the action never feels confusing. The dialogue is snappy and the pace is brisk. The slick full-color illustrations are more cartoonish than Jeff Smith's "Bone" titles (Scholastic), a series to which ChickenHare will draw some comparisons. Large panels give the art room to breathe and will likely increase the appeal with younger readers. The ending promises continued adventures, and kids will likely be waiting with anticipation. Travis Jonker, Wayland Union Schools, MI

School Library Journal

Why did the Chickenhare cross the wintry terrain? Why, to flee a maniacal taxidermist, of course. Chickenhare, a leporine creature with feathers and chicken legs, and his companion, a bearded turtle named Abe, have been captured and taken to the house of Klaus, a demented taxidermist who delights in torturing and preserving unusual "pets" and has an unsettling resemblance to another, more festive Claus. Determined to escape, the pair team up with two other strange creatures named Meg and Banjo who await a similar fate in Klaus' lair. Don't think that this amalgamated cast of characters is the pinnacle of this offering's whimsy; this peculiar party will also include a monocled ghost-goat, a cranky Krampus and a race of cute but deadly beings with razor teeth known as Shromphs. Jokes run high, insults are easily and often slung, and cheap gags run rampant; these factors combine for an imaginative, outlandish and rollicking adventure, one that's sure to pique the interest of preteen boys who seek silly over scholarly. Originally published by Dark Horse in 2006, this reissue adds vibrant color and valuable depth to Grine's illustrations, creating a pleasingly odd world readers can easily slide into and explore. Twisted, weird and fun. (Graphic fantasy/adventure. 9-14)

Kirkus Reviews