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Starla Jean #1
Starla Jean
Printz Honor winner and National Book Award Finalist Elana K. Arnold makes her chapter book debut with this charming story of a girl and her chicken, irresistibly illustrated by A. N. Kang.Introducing Starla Jean!She's full of moxie, clever as a fox, and obsessed with catching a chicken she finds at the park.When Starla first sees the scrawny bird wandering around, she just knows they're destined for one another. Her dad says, "If you can catch it, you can keep it," and Starla Jean is not one to back down from a challenge.
81 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2020
5 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Elana K. Arnold
34 books1,081 followersELANA K. ARNOLD writes books for and about children and teens. She holds a master’s degree in Creative Writing/Fiction from the University of California, Davis where she has taught Creative Writing and Adolescent Literature. Her most recent YA novel, DAMSEL, is a Printz Honor book, Her 2017 novel, WHAT GIRLS ARE MADE OF, was a finalist for the National Book Award, and her middle grade novel, A BOY CALLED BAT, is a Junior Library Guild Selection. A parent and educator living in Huntington Beach, California, Elana is a frequent speaker at schools, libraries, and writers’ conferences. Currently, Elana is the caretaker of seven pets, only three of which have fur. Sign up for her newsletter here: https://elanakarnold.us10.list-manage...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
July 20, 2022
Adorable new series. I love the characterization and humor that come through in such a short and deceptively "simple" story. Even the mom and dad feel like three dimensional human beings and I could totally relate to them a few times ;-) I was afraid Starla Jean would be too precious and precocious but, fortunately, I didn't find her annoying at all and it was so easy to empathize with her love for the lost chicken she found and her desire to keep it and part of the family.
There aren't a lot of reviews for this book so I quickly skimmed them and I recommend Peacegal's review regarding the humane perspective on the portrayal of chickens. I agree that some of the illustrations, while intending to be cute and humorous, give a wrong impression of how chickens should be handled, though overall the message in the books is positive and shows chickens as animals worthy of love and admiration.
In regard to one of the reviews concerned because the back matter says chickens can "do math" -- I agree it sounds perhaps a bit too far-fetched but the book only says that they can add and subtract basic numbers and that is not wrong: https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/c...
I also was rather surprised by the review that said, "I worry that the sexist illustrations reinforce stereotypes of gendered caregiver roles, and I worry about the impact they have on a child's perception of their place within society." Of course, everyone brings their own perspectives to the books they read and I appreciate not wanting to promote outdated gender roles, but I, personally, saw nothing wrong with the way the mother is portrayed in this book. I don't think there is anything damaging with showing a mother in the domestic realm caring for her children. I am a college-educated woman and chose to stay home with my children. When my youngest was a baby, I was often around the house, holding and caring for him. My husband would take my oldest out so they could have some special one-on-one time. I would not feel that an illustration of me carrying my baby around the house was enforcing negative gender stereotypes so I didn't see anything wrong with Starla Jean's mother caring for the baby while the father takes Starla Jean out for a little adventure (I think this shows the father in a caregiver role, also). I also don't think the mother was ever "faceless" in the illustrations. There's also an illustration where father and mother are both folding laundry. Again, I appreciate that everyone brings their own perspectives to books and I don't mean to criticize the reviewer for good intentions but I just wanted to share my own perspective as I think this series is worth reading and I wouldn't want anyone to ignore it fearing gender stereotypes. Perhaps parents could preview it and see if it would work for their family.
(I agree it would have been nice to show an illustration of the dad holding the baby, but I'm pleased to say this happens in Book 2.)
There aren't a lot of reviews for this book so I quickly skimmed them and I recommend Peacegal's review regarding the humane perspective on the portrayal of chickens. I agree that some of the illustrations, while intending to be cute and humorous, give a wrong impression of how chickens should be handled, though overall the message in the books is positive and shows chickens as animals worthy of love and admiration.
In regard to one of the reviews concerned because the back matter says chickens can "do math" -- I agree it sounds perhaps a bit too far-fetched but the book only says that they can add and subtract basic numbers and that is not wrong: https://www.scienceworld.ca/stories/c...
I also was rather surprised by the review that said, "I worry that the sexist illustrations reinforce stereotypes of gendered caregiver roles, and I worry about the impact they have on a child's perception of their place within society." Of course, everyone brings their own perspectives to the books they read and I appreciate not wanting to promote outdated gender roles, but I, personally, saw nothing wrong with the way the mother is portrayed in this book. I don't think there is anything damaging with showing a mother in the domestic realm caring for her children. I am a college-educated woman and chose to stay home with my children. When my youngest was a baby, I was often around the house, holding and caring for him. My husband would take my oldest out so they could have some special one-on-one time. I would not feel that an illustration of me carrying my baby around the house was enforcing negative gender stereotypes so I didn't see anything wrong with Starla Jean's mother caring for the baby while the father takes Starla Jean out for a little adventure (I think this shows the father in a caregiver role, also). I also don't think the mother was ever "faceless" in the illustrations. There's also an illustration where father and mother are both folding laundry. Again, I appreciate that everyone brings their own perspectives to books and I don't mean to criticize the reviewer for good intentions but I just wanted to share my own perspective as I think this series is worth reading and I wouldn't want anyone to ignore it fearing gender stereotypes. Perhaps parents could preview it and see if it would work for their family.
(I agree it would have been nice to show an illustration of the dad holding the baby, but I'm pleased to say this happens in Book 2.)
May 20, 2021
This Starla Jean who came first the chicken or the egg book was amazing book it is funny and I loved the chicken
March 30, 2021
Starla Jean and her dad visit the city park one day, and spot a rather worse-for-wear chicken pecking around the playground. Her dad jokes that “if you can catch it, you can keep it,” without realizing that Starla will, in fact, capture the hen and bring her home as a pet.
Coming from a humane perspective, I had mixed feelings on this one.
What’s good:
-Ultimately, this is the story of a young girl rescuing, befriending, and caring for a hen, whom she names Opal Egg. There is a sweet scene at the book’s conclusion in which Stella and Opal are sitting together on a tree branch.
-Stella is forced to reassess some of the ideas she had about chickens prior to meeting Opal, notably that they “aren’t smart.” Stella declares that chickens are in actuality “plenty smart!”
-While first displeased, Stella’s parents figure out a way to add Opal to their family and care for her properly. By the end of the story, she is fitting in well.
What’s not so good:
-The illustrations on the book’s cover left something to be desired. On the cover, Stella is hugging Opal by the neck as she struggles and feathers fly, and the back cover shows the girl actually gripping the hen’s neck as she struggles and appears angry. (Opal’s character design, with the googly eyes, also brings to mind the dumb chicken character in the movie “Moana.”)
-The characters repeatedly announce that Opal will not be eaten “because she has a name.” Unfortunately, this seems to wave off any compassion the family might develop for all chickens by befriending Opal.
Why does it matter? As arguably the most abused animals on the planet, chickens could use some good press, and our values regarding certain animals comes through in materials created for children. Those who would like to see a more humane future will want these messages to be good ones. I think that although it could use some work, STARLA JEAN’s overall message is positive, and hopefully future installments of this series will expand and improve upon this theme.
Coming from a humane perspective, I had mixed feelings on this one.
What’s good:
-Ultimately, this is the story of a young girl rescuing, befriending, and caring for a hen, whom she names Opal Egg. There is a sweet scene at the book’s conclusion in which Stella and Opal are sitting together on a tree branch.
-Stella is forced to reassess some of the ideas she had about chickens prior to meeting Opal, notably that they “aren’t smart.” Stella declares that chickens are in actuality “plenty smart!”
-While first displeased, Stella’s parents figure out a way to add Opal to their family and care for her properly. By the end of the story, she is fitting in well.
What’s not so good:
-The illustrations on the book’s cover left something to be desired. On the cover, Stella is hugging Opal by the neck as she struggles and feathers fly, and the back cover shows the girl actually gripping the hen’s neck as she struggles and appears angry. (Opal’s character design, with the googly eyes, also brings to mind the dumb chicken character in the movie “Moana.”)
-The characters repeatedly announce that Opal will not be eaten “because she has a name.” Unfortunately, this seems to wave off any compassion the family might develop for all chickens by befriending Opal.
Why does it matter? As arguably the most abused animals on the planet, chickens could use some good press, and our values regarding certain animals comes through in materials created for children. Those who would like to see a more humane future will want these messages to be good ones. I think that although it could use some work, STARLA JEAN’s overall message is positive, and hopefully future installments of this series will expand and improve upon this theme.
February 11, 2021
Fantastic!!
April 3, 2021
A-dorable!
October 21, 2021
The length, plot, humor, and text were ideal for K-2 readers. My first grader and third grader loved the chicken!
However, I worry that the sexist illustrations reinforce stereotypes of gendered caregiver roles, and I worry about the impact they have on a child's perception of their place within society. All females wore dresses throughout the entire book. Mother is never once depicted outside of the home or even in attire that would imply coming/going. Of the 9 times mother appears in the illustrations, she is depicted 6 times within direct proximity of the baby, and often in the kitchen. Of the 13 times father appears in the illustrations, he is depicted only once holding the baby (in the family portrait -- which presents its own issues about power and societal portrayal), and once more within proximity to the baby. The mother never appears in an illustration of her own, and is often rendered faceless. Father, on the other hand, appears alone in one illustration and is never depicted as holding either child other than the family portrait. On its own, this is not harmful. But without a balanced reading diet or library collection, this could be problematic.
However, I worry that the sexist illustrations reinforce stereotypes of gendered caregiver roles, and I worry about the impact they have on a child's perception of their place within society. All females wore dresses throughout the entire book. Mother is never once depicted outside of the home or even in attire that would imply coming/going. Of the 9 times mother appears in the illustrations, she is depicted 6 times within direct proximity of the baby, and often in the kitchen. Of the 13 times father appears in the illustrations, he is depicted only once holding the baby (in the family portrait -- which presents its own issues about power and societal portrayal), and once more within proximity to the baby. The mother never appears in an illustration of her own, and is often rendered faceless. Father, on the other hand, appears alone in one illustration and is never depicted as holding either child other than the family portrait. On its own, this is not harmful. But without a balanced reading diet or library collection, this could be problematic.
December 17, 2023
Starla Jean and her father are biking to the park on their double bicycle, waving to the locals as they ride.
When they reach the park, Dad settles down with a sandwich and his book in the shade.
Starla begins to explore and then she hears a strange noise from the bushes. Looking closer with Dad, they are surprised to discover a chicken! It's a bit scrawny and obviously lost, but Starla Jean is instantly fascinated by it.
She knows a little about chickens, but not an awful lot. She would really like to keep this one, but Dad just laughs, saying....
"If you can catch it, you can keep it."
Starla Jean decides that is exactly what is going to happen, and that's how she finds herself going home with a chicken, and a very surprised father.
Starla Jean learns lots more about chickens with her new pet. But will she be able to keep her?
The first book in a new junior chapter book series by the author of A Boy Called Bat
Starla Jean is a curious, determined, kind, little girl and she loves to explore. But the real fun begins when she takes home a chicken, with a stunned dad in tow.
Simple chicken facts are discovered and shared and a gorgeous friendship develops between girl and bird.
A sweet read for early chapter book readers with colour illustrations throughout.
Author - Elana K Arnold
Illustrator - A N Kang
Age - 6+
When they reach the park, Dad settles down with a sandwich and his book in the shade.
Starla begins to explore and then she hears a strange noise from the bushes. Looking closer with Dad, they are surprised to discover a chicken! It's a bit scrawny and obviously lost, but Starla Jean is instantly fascinated by it.
She knows a little about chickens, but not an awful lot. She would really like to keep this one, but Dad just laughs, saying....
"If you can catch it, you can keep it."
Starla Jean decides that is exactly what is going to happen, and that's how she finds herself going home with a chicken, and a very surprised father.
Starla Jean learns lots more about chickens with her new pet. But will she be able to keep her?
The first book in a new junior chapter book series by the author of A Boy Called Bat
Starla Jean is a curious, determined, kind, little girl and she loves to explore. But the real fun begins when she takes home a chicken, with a stunned dad in tow.
Simple chicken facts are discovered and shared and a gorgeous friendship develops between girl and bird.
A sweet read for early chapter book readers with colour illustrations throughout.
Author - Elana K Arnold
Illustrator - A N Kang
Age - 6+
January 15, 2021
I received an electronic ARC from MacMillan Children's Publishing Group.
Book one in a new mid-elementary chapter series by Arnold.
Starla Jean is a delightful young girl who enjoys adventures. The book begins with her telling readers facts she knows about chickens. Great intro to the actual story where she captures a lost chicken in the local park. Since her dad did not think she could catch it, he committed to letting her bring it home if she did. Plenty of humor all around as she not caught it but got it home and found ways to take care of it. When the owner is found, she lets them keep the chicken and the adventures begin.
Great amount of text for a series at this level. Enough challenging words to help them grow. Great context clues to figure out vocabulary.
Looking forward to her next adventure.
Book one in a new mid-elementary chapter series by Arnold.
Starla Jean is a delightful young girl who enjoys adventures. The book begins with her telling readers facts she knows about chickens. Great intro to the actual story where she captures a lost chicken in the local park. Since her dad did not think she could catch it, he committed to letting her bring it home if she did. Plenty of humor all around as she not caught it but got it home and found ways to take care of it. When the owner is found, she lets them keep the chicken and the adventures begin.
Great amount of text for a series at this level. Enough challenging words to help them grow. Great context clues to figure out vocabulary.
Looking forward to her next adventure.
February 20, 2021
In what appears to be a series of books, Elana K. Arnold has captured the spirit of a young girl in Starla Jean as she tells us about her knowledge of chickens and how she came to have one as a pet. Her father is amazed that she actually caught the chicken but a neighbor reminds Starla's father that she can do anything she puts her mind to. Starla proceeds to name her chicken Oval Egg and realizes that Oval Egg's stay may not be for long as the owner comes to the house to reclaim her lost bird but not before Starla's baby sister says her first word, "Bawk." New approach to childhood experiences, I applaud Arnold's attempt at the creative process of writing for the very young as well as the very old.
September 22, 2022
Gr 1–2—In short chapters geared to newly proficient readers, an inquisitive child with spunk takes home a chicken she finds in the park, hoping it will be her pet. Starla Jean is a lively young girl who enjoys being one with nature and riding her bike with her father. She narrates, and her droll tone is sure to draw readers in as she explains how she became a chicken expert. For good reasons, she names the chicken Opal Egg. In fact, Starla has a good reason for everything she does, and though the story is little more than a shaggy dog tale, but with a chicken, there is a happy ending. VERDICT A funny introduction to a new character and series, best for its humorous narration and a charming baby sister.—
February 27, 2021
Arnold integrates facts in this series of books about a first-time pet owner.
Starla Jean stumbles on a scrawny chicken in the park and asks to adopt it as a pet. To her father's horror, she is able to capture it and brings it home - where she learns alot about what it is like to have a chicken for a pet.
Written in short chapters, this charmer zips by with arresting speed and interweaves facts about chickens in the story. Told from the POV and with a naive tone by Starla Jean, she is endearing and adds so much humor with this naivete.
Highly Recommended for beginning readers, PreS-grade 2.
Starla Jean stumbles on a scrawny chicken in the park and asks to adopt it as a pet. To her father's horror, she is able to capture it and brings it home - where she learns alot about what it is like to have a chicken for a pet.
Written in short chapters, this charmer zips by with arresting speed and interweaves facts about chickens in the story. Told from the POV and with a naive tone by Starla Jean, she is endearing and adds so much humor with this naivete.
Highly Recommended for beginning readers, PreS-grade 2.
Read
March 13, 2021When Starla Jean spots a scrawny chicken at the park, her dad laughs and says "if you can catch it, you can keep it." Of course she does, and soon Starla Jean's got a brand new pet of her own.
A good combination of animal fun and silliness with a combination of text and illustrations on each page that make this a good choice for kids not quite ready for full-page Magic Tree House level first chapter books. I expect this to circulate, but nothing here stood out as particularly spectacular among the slew of new first chapter books either.
A good combination of animal fun and silliness with a combination of text and illustrations on each page that make this a good choice for kids not quite ready for full-page Magic Tree House level first chapter books. I expect this to circulate, but nothing here stood out as particularly spectacular among the slew of new first chapter books either.
November 15, 2023
Children's early chapter book, realistic fiction. Starla Jean rides her double bike with her dad to the park, as is their usual. But she finds a chicken, just roaming in the park! She alerts her father and he says that if she catches it, she can keep it. Which he shortly regrets, as Starla Jean manages to catch the chicken. When they get home, they set to making found chicken posters. To their surprise, the original owner is okay with rehoming the chicken. A fun story that does include some chicken facts, and the chicken even manages to teach baby Willa how to talk (bawk!)
January 26, 2022
Starla Jean and her dad go to the park one day. When all the swings are taken, she goes exploring and finds a chicken. Her dad says if she can catch it, she can take it home. Much to her dad's dismay, she does catch it. What do you do with a chicken in your house? I like that the book includes Starla Jean's facts about chickens. This is an early first chapter book with a lot of illustrations and not too many lines per page. For fans of Mercy Watson.
March 24, 2022
Early chapter book.
I love the dad rashly promising "If you catch it, you can keep it." And then he repeatedly says, "I didn't think she would catch it."
Starla seems to have good ideas on how to fix objections (like the diaper on the chicken), even if she totally misses the subtext sometimes (like when the mom points out that the chicken is on the table.).
Starla Jean reminds me a bit of Junie B. Jones, but she's less obnoxious.
Like all the chicken facts included at the end.
I love the dad rashly promising "If you catch it, you can keep it." And then he repeatedly says, "I didn't think she would catch it."
Starla seems to have good ideas on how to fix objections (like the diaper on the chicken), even if she totally misses the subtext sometimes (like when the mom points out that the chicken is on the table.).
Starla Jean reminds me a bit of Junie B. Jones, but she's less obnoxious.
Like all the chicken facts included at the end.
October 17, 2022
I loved the writing in this, the first book about Starla Jean and her chicken. The voice was spunky yet believable. The author uses first person, but goes further, pushing the text to draw the reader—perfect for enticing early readers. The story was cute. The world-building irresistible to the target age. I want to eat these up. While the illustrations didn't always support the text in the way I would have liked, they were charming and engaging. Can't wait for the next book to release.
February 5, 2023
Elana K Arnold does it again - this time with a younger chapter book. Starla Jean is a precocious kid with a quick wit - my kind of kid. Sometimes the writing in these early chapter books can be perfunctory - there to give kids practice reading, but nothing too exciting. Not here - Elana steeps this book with the same whimsy and crackling humor that we see in Just Harriet. So happy for young readers!
February 22, 2023
This was super cute. It's an Otter Award nominee, but probably too short and simple to win. A great series for 2nd graders and fans of Meet Yasmin! series.
July 24, 2023
Cute early chapter book about the adventures of Starla Jean and how she became a proud chicken owner. The author interspersed some basic facts about chickens in with the story of how the chicken came to live with her family. The illustrations are fun and colorful while not interfering with the text on the page. Great book for 2nd - early 3rd grade readers.
May 3, 2025
This book is written like a chapter book but has a lot of pictures, making it nice for early readers, but the words and sentences are regular difficulty, and some of the jokes are for parents, so not sure who the target audience is. Is it supposed to be a read aloud or independent read? Emily said it was fine and I agree.
March 4, 2021
I loved everything about this book: the playful illustrations sprinkled through the dynamic and engaging text. Also, Opal Egg, the chicken is a heroine for the ages.
My only complaint: some of the formatting makes the text difficult to read at times.
My only complaint: some of the formatting makes the text difficult to read at times.
May 21, 2021
Cute and funny! The precocious Starla Jean finds a chicken at the park and decides to name her (because you don't name your food). But having a chicken for a pet isn't as easy as you would think! #1 in the series.
November 30, 2021
Precocious girl, catches the chicken in the park to take home as a pet. Mother says chickens poop too much to be a house pet, Starla Jean points out her baby sister poops all the time too. Guess what Willa's first and second words are.
January 15, 2022
Such a cute book. I was drawn in by the cover and the thought of a little girl chasing and bringing home a chicken. I thought the story was cute, but there were a few awkward transitions from one scene to another.
I would recommend to a second/early third grade reader.
I would recommend to a second/early third grade reader.
February 7, 2022
didn't realize that this book had chapters, but the chapters are short and fun for the kids. Could turn this book into a multiple day lesson for younger learners and gets them more engaged on creating friendships with not only humans, but animals as well.
August 9, 2022
A lovely story about friendship and chickens. Younger readers are sure to love Starla Jean’s lively narration interspersed with facts about chickens, as well as the humorous full color illustrations which lend support for newly independent readers. A true gem!
October 18, 2022
Fun early reader that I enjoyed with my 6 year old daughter. We laughed at the mishaps Starla Jean encountered trying to capture Opal Egg, the chicken. Great beginning chapter book with larger print and a lot of illustrations to sustain young reader’s attention.
October 26, 2022
A very cute book about a spunky girl who finds a chicken...and catches it! The illustrations are adorable and the story is simple but fun. Young readers will enjoy that it is a "chapter book" with very short chapters.
January 4, 2023
This is a really cute chapter book - I like that Starla Jean gets to keep her chicken, since it seems like this story always ends with the kids having their wild pet for a minute, but having to give them up.
February 19, 2023
A darling simple story of a determined girl who finds a chicken in the park, and adopts it (to the chagrin of her parents). She learns facts about chickens, gives it a diaper, and her baby sister learns her first word: "Bawk!" I could totally see my daughter having done this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews