The Artsy Smartsy Club

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency #3

by Daniel Pinkwater

They were on their own -- three kids and one giant chicken. Stuck in Hoboken for the summer, Nick Itch, Loretta Fischetti, and Bruno Ugg are really, really bored. After whiling away their time spitting in the Hudson River and trying to teach Henrietta, Nick's 266-pound chicken, how to juggle marshmallows, they're ready for something -- anything -- to happen.

When a mysterious and brilliant chalk artist starts decorating Hoboken's streets, the three friends are blown away. They set off to explore the art world in a frenzy of adventurous drawing, screeving, and eggplant picnics.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Humor, Juvenile, Middle Grade, Art

176 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2005

About the author

Daniel Manus Pinkwater is an author of mostly children's books and is an occasional commentator on National Public Radio. He attended Bard College. Well-known books include Lizard Music, The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death, Fat Men from Space, Borgel, and the picture book The Big Orange Splot. Pinkwater has also illustrated many of his books in the past, although for more recent works that task has passed to his wife Jill Pinkwater.

Reviews

[Stven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful episode in the lives of those kids from Hoboken and Henrietta of The Hoboken Chicken Emergency fame. Daniel Pinkwater has hit a stride with this series. The writing style is uncomplicated, entirely suitable for a reader who has mastered, for example, Dr. Seuss, but the inspired lunacy will have readers of all ages laughing out loud.

Don't let the blurbs on the back of the book about "the power of art to enliven life" scare you away. This is fun.

[Miriam Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new fave.

[Ellice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another really cute Pinkwater book, about a bunch of kids from Hoboken who learn to see their world differently through art, thanks to the help of a number of pretty eccentric adults. I'm on board with any book that contains the line "El Greco specialized in lollapaloozas."

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Daniel Pinkwater books. This is a sort of sequel to the Hoboken Chicken Emergency, where Henrietta and her friends learn about art and how to become good artists. Just as enjoyable as ever.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A LOVED this book - he asked me to read it to him twice. Good, clean fun and some suspense surrounding an artistic...chicken.

[Vivian Zenari · Rating 4 out of 5]

More chicken related silliness. This one shows kids becoming interested in art. Liked that

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story with imaginative and fantastical touches like a 277 pound, six foot tall chicken. The children learn about art and have adventures as they try to become artists. I enjoyed this journey with them and the quick pace. There are funny lighthearted moments throughout which add joy and spark to the story. The last scene at the art contest is especially funny.

[Caroline Downer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought The Artsy Smartsy Club was a funny and easy to read transitional book! It is written by Daniel Pinkwater and illustrated by Jill Pinkwater! I really liked how the illustrations break up the chapters for this book for young readers. The plot is easy to follow and the characters are relatable, being three young and adventurous friends. Books like these, that are set in the summer of elementary school aged children's lives, make for great adventure books. Often, young readers can relate to summers off of school and a desire to fill that summer with crazy fun with their friends. The addition of the giant chicken in this book brings out the humor that is brought about throughout these pages. What I also liked about this book was that it inspires young children to appreciate art. It does not bore the reader by trying to force art on them. This story shows the reader how art can be fun, and used to be creative! The main characters are open to learning and see it as a positive thing. This is good for young readers because they see how these three have an adventurous summer while studying art, and they can then understand that art can be fun! Overall, I thought this book for young readers was engaging, adventurous, and full of art appreciation!

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I read this with an eyebrow raised the entire time. Someone described Pinkwater's writing as "quirky." It is definitely that. Pinkwater's writing style definitely embodies his advice on writing:

"Read a lot, and read what you like. Write a lot, if you like writing. Listen politely to advice and opinions others may give you, but don't take it too seriously. Yours is the only opinion that matters. It is very nice when people read what you have written, and enjoy it--but that is secondary. First, you should write to please yourself."

I think I would have enjoyed his writing much younger as a child. Maybe as a teen, too. I don't dislike it now, but it's not quite my cup of hot chocolate. I may at some time still try one of his YA books to get a feel for that age group. But for now I feel ready for our Teen Book Club after this book and the picture books I read.

As for the book itself, I liked seeing the kids become interested in art. I liked the art references and actually knew a few of them. I appreciated the humor even if I didn't love it. And I think this would be a fabulous read-aloud to a school-age group.

[elstaffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pull quote/note
"Outside the train was complete blackness.
We could see our reflections in the windows across from us.
'We're underneath the Hudson River,' I said.
'Neat!' Bruno Ugg said.
'There are tons of water on top of us, and tugboats, and fish, and mud, and dead bodies,' Loretta Fischetti said.
'Dead bodies?' I asked.
'Sure,' Loretta Fischetti said. 'People drown
in the river and float around up there.'
'Neat!' Bruno Ugg said.
'And thirty-four workmen died building the tunnels,' Loretta Fischetti said. 'Some of them are still down here, encased in con-crete.'
'How do you know all this?' I asked.
'Studied it in school," Loretta Fischetti said.
'Oh, and there are sharks in the river.'
'Neat!' Bruno Ugg said.
"It's salty,' Loretta Fischetti said.
'What, the river?' I asked.
'Yep. It's salty for about eighty miles up. It's sort of part ocean and part river.'
'Big sharks?' I asked.
'Sure," Loretta Fischetti said. 'They eat the dead bodies.'
'I love the Hudson River!' Bruno Ugg said." (31-32)

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a silly book - three friends and their 6 foot chicken need something to do over the summer. They stumble upon the work of a screever (sidewalk artist), and they are inspired to create art themselves. They form an art club of sorts. This book sneaks in art lessons here and there, so I suppose it would be a fun introduction to art for children. It even mentions Sister Wendy Beckett! I would say this is a book for third grade and up.

[Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Pinkwater classic! Rare is a book that tries to teach art appreciation, and this story pulls it off in a natural way that won't scare off kids. And like many of his other books, Pinkwater mixes mystery, learning and wacky fun into a delightful tale. Surely, all readers will get the urge to buy colored chalks and begin drawing on the nearest sidewalk. You have been warned.

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple book about kids wanting to become artists when they're inspired by chalk drawings on the street. Easy to sit down with and read.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book with strong themes of independence and creativity.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charming