Cranky Chicken
Narwhal and Jelly meet The Bad Guys in this heartwarming, brightly illustrated, and downright hilarious chapter book about what happens when a very cranky chicken is befriended by a very cheerful worm.
Cranky Chicken is, well, cranky. With one cranky eyebrow, cranky eyes, and even cranky, scratchy feet. But then one day, Cranky meets a very friendly worm named Speedy who wants nothing more than to be friends. Young readers will love seeing the mismatched friendship grow over the course of three charming and laugh-out-loud short adventures as Chicken and Speedy become BFFs (Best Feathered Friends) and Speedy shows Chicken how to look on the bright side.
“Will make even the crankiest reader feel that thing that’s not cranky. (Happy!)”
- Kirkus“The comic companionship (Battersby) develops between two complete opposites couldn’t be more endearing.”
- Publishers Weekly“Bursting with humor and life, … this book won’t stay on your library shelf for long.”
- School Library Journal
Awards / Achievements
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Indigo Best Kids’ Book of 2021
ALA Best Graphic Novels for Young Readers (2022)
CBCA Book of the Year Awards - Notable Book (2022)
Cybils Awards - Finalist, Elementary Graphic Novels (2022)
SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards - Finalist (2022)
Sunshine State Young Readers Award, Junior - Nominee (2022)
Cranky Chicken 2: Party Animals
Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm are back in another laugh-out-loud, brightly illustrated, and heartwarming chapter book as Speedy tries to plan a party for a hungry Chicken — sure to delight fans of Narwhal and Jelly and The Bad Guys!
Cranky Chicken is super high on the crank-o-meter! And hungry. A hungry, hangry chicken is never fun, so Speedy races to cheer Cranky up. It’s Cranky’s birthday, so how about a surprise party? But Cranky hates surprises. So Speedy plans an unsurprise party, a day filled with all Cranky’s favorite un-cranky things. After, Speedy wants to go to the beach, which Cranky absolutely does not like (too sandy, too hot, not to mention sharks). Can Cranky learn to try something new? Find even more reasons to fall in love with Cranky and Speedy in these three new stories about friendship, communication, and facing things that seem scary!
“Cranky and Speedy’s outlooks will resonate with readers no matter which side of the bed they get up from.”
- School Library Journal“Party Animals is the sort of book that will foster a genuine love of reading in children. Highly Recommended.”
- Canadian Review of Materials
Awards / Achievements
ALA Best Graphic Novels for Young Readers (2022)
Cranky Chicken 3: Crankosaurus
Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm return in another hilarious, brightly illustrated chapter book as Cranky plans a nap and the two friends find a mysterious egg — sure to be beloved by fans of Narwhal and Jelly and The Bad Guys!
Cranky Chicken has no time to play with Speedy the worm because it’s nap time — and it is never a good idea for Cranky to skip a nap. Then, Speedy starts having questions of identity: what does it really mean to be a worm? Can Cranky and Speedy find some answers? Later, Cranky and Speedy discover an egg and have to work together to take care of it. These three new stories about listening, helping our friends, and learning new things will make readers fall even more deeply in love with these delightful BFFs (that is, best feathered friends).
“Simple shapes and linework bring to life a wonderfully expressive pair in this sweetly silly graphic novel. (These) cuddly, funny comics will charm the crankiest of readers.”
- Kirkus
Coming May 2023
Preorder at your favourite bookstore NOW!
Cranky Chicken 4 - The Cranky-Verse
Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm are back in another sweetly silly graphic chapter book as the two friends learn how to take care of each other, navigate a cranky injury, and go on a camping trip—sure to be beloved by fans of Narwhal & Jelly and The Bad Guys!
Cranky Chicken and Speedy the worm have a new member in their Best Feathered Family: a little turtle! But what should they call her? And what do turtles eat or do for fun? Will Cranky figure out how to be the turtle’s friend? Then Speedy gets hurt and becomes…cranky! Does that mean that Cranky must become—gasp!—Cheerful Chicken? Later, a camping trip brings the trio together for an exciting vacation. Will Chicken survive the outdoor toilets, the nighttime noises, and all those bugs?
These three delightful stories about friendship and caring for one another—interspersed with laugh-out-loud vignettes—will make readers fall even more deeply in love with their favorite BFFs (that is, best feathered friends)!
