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Chick and Brain #2
Chick and Brain: Egg or Eyeball?
Newbery Honoree Cece Bell follows her offbeat Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot with an even wackier story for beginning readers, sure to elicit eye-rolling squeals of delight.
Oh! Oh, oh, oh! Look what Brain found. Chick and Spot say it is an egg. Brain says it is an eyeball. Is it an egg or an eyeball? The inimitable Cece Bell is back with a second hilarious primer on good manners gone awry and arguments run amok. Perfectly pitched to kids just learning to read and loaded with verbal and visual comedy, this offbeat graphic story by a master of the genre builds to an exhilaratingly absurd surprise ending.
Oh! Oh, oh, oh! Look what Brain found. Chick and Spot say it is an egg. Brain says it is an eyeball. Is it an egg or an eyeball? The inimitable Cece Bell is back with a second hilarious primer on good manners gone awry and arguments run amok. Perfectly pitched to kids just learning to read and loaded with verbal and visual comedy, this offbeat graphic story by a master of the genre builds to an exhilaratingly absurd surprise ending.
Audio CD
Published October 20, 2020
19 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Cece Bell
30 books811 followersI'm an author and an illustrator, and sadly not a jazz pianist. I live in an old church in the hills of Virginia with my husband, author Tom Angleberger. I work right next door in a new-ish barn. I've written and illustrated a bunch of books for kids and was lucky enough to get a Geisel Honor for one of 'em. If you want to know more about my hearing loss or my childhood (or both), check out my first graphic novel, El Deafo. It's only slightly fictionalized, honest! I'm at www.cecebell.com if you want to see more weird stuff.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
December 12, 2022
✩ 4 stars
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this should not be that funny, i was literally cry laughing ughh.
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but honestly i don’t see me moving on from this type of humor anytime soon.
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this should not be that funny, i was literally cry laughing ughh.
~
but honestly i don’t see me moving on from this type of humor anytime soon.
April 24, 2020
Chick and Brain: Egg or Eyeball is a humorous visual comedy that will make you laugh your socks off!
This picture book is not all it's cracked up to me (haha, jokes!). It might seem like a children's book from a few steps away, but take a closer look and it's an amusing selection of comedy for both young and old alike!
In the first chapter, Chick and Brain argue over whether an egg is an egg or an eyeball. Chapter 2 introduces Spot the dog, who also agrees with Chick but creates a bit of conflict. Chapter 3 introduces Puff the cat, but creates some drama over his lunch time favourites. And then the last chapter introduces Something Else entirely.
The illustrations give me my 90s childhood vibes. That made it quite nostalgic, and having the comedy be so good to really hit home. This book also gave me Dexter and DeeDee vibes with the smarter character and not as intelligent one. Serious, so nostalgic! It's great!
Overall, this book is amusing and a quite read. If you're looking to spice up your shelf with something fun, light and hilarious then grab this book!
Four out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
This picture book is not all it's cracked up to me (haha, jokes!). It might seem like a children's book from a few steps away, but take a closer look and it's an amusing selection of comedy for both young and old alike!
In the first chapter, Chick and Brain argue over whether an egg is an egg or an eyeball. Chapter 2 introduces Spot the dog, who also agrees with Chick but creates a bit of conflict. Chapter 3 introduces Puff the cat, but creates some drama over his lunch time favourites. And then the last chapter introduces Something Else entirely.
The illustrations give me my 90s childhood vibes. That made it quite nostalgic, and having the comedy be so good to really hit home. This book also gave me Dexter and DeeDee vibes with the smarter character and not as intelligent one. Serious, so nostalgic! It's great!
Overall, this book is amusing and a quite read. If you're looking to spice up your shelf with something fun, light and hilarious then grab this book!
Four out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
April 14, 2020
This is really a laugh out loud, roll around funny. Kiddos love to laugh and be silly. Brain who looks like a brain finds an eye ball with chick. It looks like an egg and chick tells Brain that it is. Egg or an eyeball it is all silliness. Until Spot comes and he wants to eat the egg and pretty soon other animals come into the craziness and then you have fun chaos.
It is an egg or an eyeball. The friends find out and all ends well. A silly time in this crazy time of 2020.
A Special Thank you to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
It is an egg or an eyeball. The friends find out and all ends well. A silly time in this crazy time of 2020.
A Special Thank you to Candlewick Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
April 13, 2020
Just too silly for me. The art was interesting and I like the idea of small cartoons/comic book, but with chapter so we get closer to a novel, so might help kid develop sense of the organization of more «adult» book, but the content just was too absurd, some might like and think it's funny, but not my type of humor, for two or three pages it was alright but then way too repetitive and over stretch concept!
June 11, 2020
As stupid, silly and obsessed with etiquette as the first, but this sequel did manage to genuinely surprise me with the twist at the end. So bonus star awarded.
August 6, 2021
Richie’s Picks: CHICK AND BRAIN: EGG OR EYEBALL? by Cece Bell, Candlewick, March 2020, 72p., ISBN: 978-1-5362-0439-1
“Everybody plays the fool sometime
There’s no exception to the rule
Listen baby, it may be factual, may be cruel
I ain’t lyin’, everybody plays the fool”
-- J.R. Bailey, Rudy Clark, & Ken Williams (1972)
I can’t help it. Working with preschoolers all those years made me obsessive about washing hands. And not just my own. My kids, grandkids, friends, partner, and everybody else’s kids and grandkids repeatedly get stopped before touching anything. “Did you wash your hands?” And, in my book, an hour ago doesn’t count. I often get grief for it. My partner is the most pointed in her response to my unwelcome queries. (But she knows I’m right, and so she heads for the sink.)
It was far worse for Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865), the Hungarian scientist who proposed that doctors wash their hands with a chlorinated lime solution between doing autopsies and delivering babies. The doctors mocked him, for he could provide no scientific justification. Eventually, he was sent to an asylum where he was beaten by guards and died.
The point is, sometimes you know you’re right. You may be in the minority, you may take some serious grief but, hopefully, the truth will soon surface.
Which leads me to the second hysterical, graphic easy reader saga of Chick and Brain (rhymes with Dick and Jane). Brain discovers a white, egg-shaped object. He declares it an eyeball. Chick mocks him, declaring it an egg:
(Chick)
“An egg is a baby chicken.
An egg comes out of a lady chicken.”
(Brain)
“Egg egg e--say WHAT?”
(Chick)
“This is an egg!
It is a baby chicken.
It came out of a lady chicken.”
(Brain)
“No way! That is an eyeball!”
(Chick)
“It is an EGG!”
“I know because I was an egg.
I am a baby chicken
And I came out of a lady chicken.”
(Brain)
“You did? Which end?”
(Chick)
“Ha. Ha.”
Of course, in the end, after a variety of critters join the debate, Brain is vindicated when the grateful creature (giant monster bunny?) retrieves his eyeball.
As with CHICK AND BRAIN: SMELL MY FOOT!, Cece Bell employs engaging wordplay and there’s running slapstick regarding who is going to eat who or what for lunch.
(Giant monster bunny)
“I CAN SEE! NO EAT FRIENDS!”
I just hope that Ms. Bell has some more ideas for this comedic duo and their critter buddies.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
“Everybody plays the fool sometime
There’s no exception to the rule
Listen baby, it may be factual, may be cruel
I ain’t lyin’, everybody plays the fool”
-- J.R. Bailey, Rudy Clark, & Ken Williams (1972)
I can’t help it. Working with preschoolers all those years made me obsessive about washing hands. And not just my own. My kids, grandkids, friends, partner, and everybody else’s kids and grandkids repeatedly get stopped before touching anything. “Did you wash your hands?” And, in my book, an hour ago doesn’t count. I often get grief for it. My partner is the most pointed in her response to my unwelcome queries. (But she knows I’m right, and so she heads for the sink.)
It was far worse for Ignaz Semmelweis (1818-1865), the Hungarian scientist who proposed that doctors wash their hands with a chlorinated lime solution between doing autopsies and delivering babies. The doctors mocked him, for he could provide no scientific justification. Eventually, he was sent to an asylum where he was beaten by guards and died.
The point is, sometimes you know you’re right. You may be in the minority, you may take some serious grief but, hopefully, the truth will soon surface.
Which leads me to the second hysterical, graphic easy reader saga of Chick and Brain (rhymes with Dick and Jane). Brain discovers a white, egg-shaped object. He declares it an eyeball. Chick mocks him, declaring it an egg:
(Chick)
“An egg is a baby chicken.
An egg comes out of a lady chicken.”
(Brain)
“Egg egg e--say WHAT?”
(Chick)
“This is an egg!
It is a baby chicken.
It came out of a lady chicken.”
(Brain)
“No way! That is an eyeball!”
(Chick)
“It is an EGG!”
“I know because I was an egg.
I am a baby chicken
And I came out of a lady chicken.”
(Brain)
“You did? Which end?”
(Chick)
“Ha. Ha.”
Of course, in the end, after a variety of critters join the debate, Brain is vindicated when the grateful creature (giant monster bunny?) retrieves his eyeball.
As with CHICK AND BRAIN: SMELL MY FOOT!, Cece Bell employs engaging wordplay and there’s running slapstick regarding who is going to eat who or what for lunch.
(Giant monster bunny)
“I CAN SEE! NO EAT FRIENDS!”
I just hope that Ms. Bell has some more ideas for this comedic duo and their critter buddies.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
https://twitter.com/richiespicks
richiepartington@gmail.com
April 23, 2020
Cece Bell has done it again with her silly humor in Chick and Brain: Egg or Eyeball. The repetitive text makes this a good pick for beginning readers. I love that the format is that of a graphic novel but has chapters to make readers feel as if they are reading something substantial. This book is great for those kids who have read all of the Mo Willems and want more humor with dialogue. Great for teaching voice in a book as this book would adapt easily into a silly reader's theater and students would enjoy.
In this book, Brain brings forth what looks like an egg and Chick argues that no it must be an eyeball. Characters from the last Chick and Brain book make an appearance but we are also introduced to two new characters! Quirky, silly, and giggle inducing, this book is one that will surely appeal to my students. I will be purchasing this book for our library's collection.
The publisher Candlewick Press generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
In this book, Brain brings forth what looks like an egg and Chick argues that no it must be an eyeball. Characters from the last Chick and Brain book make an appearance but we are also introduced to two new characters! Quirky, silly, and giggle inducing, this book is one that will surely appeal to my students. I will be purchasing this book for our library's collection.
The publisher Candlewick Press generously provided me with a copy of the book upon request on NetGalley. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
May 31, 2020
Wow. So, that was crazy. A bit surreal. It was also great silly fun! Is the white oval object that Brain found an eyeball or an egg? Brain says eyeball, but Chick disagrees and says it's an egg. Spot the Dog agrees with Chick, as does Puff Huffman the Cat. Through all of this, we have misunderstandings about who is having whom over for lunch, and lessons in manners. Then Something Else arrives, and the mystery is finally solved. The silliness and repetition makes this a great read aloud book, and the offbeat antics of the characters and goofy artwork will be appealing to all ages.
#ChickandBrainEggorEyeball #NetGalley
#ChickandBrainEggorEyeball #NetGalley
November 18, 2022
Such a funny book - I would have dedicated it to all the Brians misspelled Brain. This is one of those books perfect for a reluctant reader who needs something good and funny to read, but also needs easier text.
July 22, 2025
Read this with my 6 year old niece and she thought it was HILARIOUS. Top notch humor, silly and ridiculous: best kind of book out there!
April 17, 2020
We love Cece Bell in our house, and her newest book certainly didn't disappoint! Both my kindergartner and fourth grader enjoyed reading this book and laughed out loud and the funny antics of Chick and Brain. This book is the perfect level for children who are learning to read longer books but aren't quite to a true chapter book yet, though I think it would be entertaining for all ages.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
June 25, 2020
An interesting way to approach the subject of having a baby. I think it worked well!
December 15, 2022
This one was read to me 😃 A ton of laughs. And then I went to Literacy Night at the school and learned all the parents and teachers are trying to get their kids OFF graphic novels.
March 30, 2020
This is an amusing book for beginning readers, but nothing remarkable.
It's attempting to break into the same circle as Willems' Elephant & Piggie books, but it's not on the same level. The humor isn't as strong, and I don't think it will survive re-readings as well.
For me, it was a one-and-done.
However, if you have a child that is learning to read, this may fit the bill for something funny, but not overly simplified.
It's attempting to break into the same circle as Willems' Elephant & Piggie books, but it's not on the same level. The humor isn't as strong, and I don't think it will survive re-readings as well.
For me, it was a one-and-done.
However, if you have a child that is learning to read, this may fit the bill for something funny, but not overly simplified.
April 5, 2020
This one will no doubt leave young readers with the giggles. I like that the characters stay true to who they are, even when it sounds a little bit like "who's on first?"
March 19, 2020
This book is pure silliness. Brain finds an object that he thinks is an eyeball, but everyone else is sure it's an egg. As Chick and Brain argue over whether it is an egg or an eyeball, they keep waking up other creatures and the argument starts over. It's a very easy read with repetitions of many words and phrases for young readers. As stated on the back, Cece Bell wants Chick and Brain to be the "Dick and Jane" for this generation's new readers. It definitely fits that bill. I'm sure it will appeal to younger students and to those who love graphic novels.
March 20, 2020
This is a cute early reader book! I’ll keep this on my ideas list for a future school library purchase. I think it could go over as well as Piggie and Gerald books with younger readers!
June 30, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Candlewick Press through NetGalley.
Brain finds a white object that he thinks is an eyeball. It's obvious to Chick and to readers that it's actually an egg. They argue and pull in other animals - Spot and Puff. Everyone but Brain agrees it's a chicken egg. One more character joins the story - Something Else, and a surprise twist finishes the story.
Repetitive gags throughout will delight younger elementary level readers. The illustrations are joyful and support the humor in the text.
Brain finds a white object that he thinks is an eyeball. It's obvious to Chick and to readers that it's actually an egg. They argue and pull in other animals - Spot and Puff. Everyone but Brain agrees it's a chicken egg. One more character joins the story - Something Else, and a surprise twist finishes the story.
Repetitive gags throughout will delight younger elementary level readers. The illustrations are joyful and support the humor in the text.
January 12, 2023
Creepy in a good way.
February 7, 2021
Too silly and repetitive for me.
July 15, 2020
So ridiculously absurd! I love it.
“Oh Brain, you look very smart. But you are not very smart,” is a common refrain heard throughout, and you can’t help but agree. Brain can be pretty silly.
The Book, Book, Book joke had me laughing.
But then, maybe Chick isn’t so smart either. Chick’s insistence on manners leads to some hilarious misunderstanding.
Is it an egg or an eyeball? What next dangerous thing will their argument awaken? Will someone accept that invitation for lunch?
This is one of those books you have to experience. Bonus points for quality educational content for the early reader set. Those looking for a book that both embraces and subverts the Dick & Jane nonsense? Chick & Brain is your series, right here.
For fans of Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie series or Fly Guy series, where learning to read is fun, and smart.
“Oh Brain, you look very smart. But you are not very smart,” is a common refrain heard throughout, and you can’t help but agree. Brain can be pretty silly.
The Book, Book, Book joke had me laughing.
But then, maybe Chick isn’t so smart either. Chick’s insistence on manners leads to some hilarious misunderstanding.
Is it an egg or an eyeball? What next dangerous thing will their argument awaken? Will someone accept that invitation for lunch?
This is one of those books you have to experience. Bonus points for quality educational content for the early reader set. Those looking for a book that both embraces and subverts the Dick & Jane nonsense? Chick & Brain is your series, right here.
For fans of Mo Willems’ Elephant & Piggie series or Fly Guy series, where learning to read is fun, and smart.
August 29, 2020
A fun "Chick and Brain" beginning-to-read book in four chapters delivered in a graphic-novel format appropriate for young readers. The first chapter has Brain showing Brain an item he found, which he labels an eyeball. Chick says it's an egg. Thus, the debate continues with a lot of humor through the next three chapters where new characters also debate this issue. Chapter 4 comes to a scary (hahah) and humorous conclusion with all right with the world. And the illustrations are as funny as the dialogue between these quirky characters.
December 18, 2021
I watched a webinar in which the author was part of a panel of artists and authors who write early readers, and I loved the philosophy about writing funny books that appeal to kids' sense of humor and seamlessly incorporate repetition to bolster the skill and confidence of children just learning to read. My daughter got a kick out of both this one and the companion Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot!, and it did, indeed, help her read a little easier to have so many repeated words, so well done, Cece Bell!
December 23, 2020
Very easy readers are actually very difficult to write. The vocabulary needs to be very small, with easy words, yet the plot needs to be entertaining with identifiable characters, and have a surprise ending. Not easy at all, yet this one does it very well. With at least one character reminiscent of the "Dumb Bunnies" picture book series, and several friends to argue with, who would have thought that one ovoid object would be so entertainingly controversial.
April 23, 2021
I am continually surprised by how many people do not know that an egg is NOT a chicken. The chicken never was the egg. An egg is a nutritional insulation for the developing chick. However, if the rooster hasn't put any sperm in that egg, and the egg been incubated, there is not a chick in that egg. It is such a minor scientific fact, yet so many are convinced that they are eating "the unborn!", and I have even heard it come up in abortion arguments. So stupid.
May 18, 2022
As with Book 1 of the Chick and Brain graphic novel, “Smell My Foot”, “Egg or Eyeball” reads like a beginning reader book, with lots of word reputation.
Author CeCe Bell states on the book’s back cover that she ‘learned to read with Dick and Jane, and she hopes other kids will learn to read with Chick and Brain’.
Great for readers in grades 2-3 or grades 4-5 strugglers. Readers who enjoy LaRochelle’s “See the Cat: three stories about a dog” will like this series.
Author CeCe Bell states on the book’s back cover that she ‘learned to read with Dick and Jane, and she hopes other kids will learn to read with Chick and Brain’.
Great for readers in grades 2-3 or grades 4-5 strugglers. Readers who enjoy LaRochelle’s “See the Cat: three stories about a dog” will like this series.
May 12, 2020
You can tell from the cover that this book by Cece Bell is going to give some big laughs. This hilarious on-going argument holds a big surprise at the end that resolves everything. I suspect young readers will love this silly, repeating story. The illustrations are alive enough to make me hear all the shouting!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!
June 1, 2020
Thank you Candlewick Press and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love Cece Bell. Her humor. Her illustrations. The twists in her stories. Chick and Brain is a fun series for fans of Captain Underpants. They are also great for beginning readers as the dialogue is short and pictures are engaging but not over stimulating. I liked the ending the most. It made me giggle.
I love Cece Bell. Her humor. Her illustrations. The twists in her stories. Chick and Brain is a fun series for fans of Captain Underpants. They are also great for beginning readers as the dialogue is short and pictures are engaging but not over stimulating. I liked the ending the most. It made me giggle.
September 28, 2020
Well...one knows exactly what they are going to get if you have read the first book of this series. The humor is for a certain type of student and those who will enjoy this book will love it. Others might be turned off by it. I am not sure where my younger self would rank this book, yet I have a feeling that it would be lots of stars.
June 25, 2021
Very cute early chapter / graphic novel for young readers. I really like how it’s divided into chapters like traditional early chapter books that emerging readers are familiar with. Kids will love reading this aloud with increasing fluency. I like it but don’t find anything especially unforgettable about it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews