Chicken Joy on Redbean Road: A Bayou Country Romp

by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Melissa Sweet (Illustrations)

When people danced to Joe Beebee’s music they forgot about bad knees, tight shoes, backaches, blisters, and beetles . . . They forgot sickness, sadness, and sin. Joe Beebee’s music, folks say, will take you up so high, your problems look small enough to stomp on. But, worries a plain brown hen, can it make a quiet rooster sing? Can it save her best friend from becoming Quiet Rooster Stew? Will Joe Beebee even play for chickens?

With art as fun as waltzing on the moon and with words as lively as a fiddle, this book captures the power of music to heal and of friendship to endure.

Genres: Picture Books, Music, Childrens, Animals

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2007

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son (5) picked this book out at our local library. As you know, picking random books off the shelf can be a blessing or a curse. Fortunately, this book was a blessing. It is an enjoyable tale about a hen, a rooster, and their colorful & helpful bayou neighbors. From reading this book, my son was shown how not giving up can get you what you want, and how it is important to help others. My son also enjoyed it very much when the hen said, "Laissez les bons temps rouler," which he responded with in english "let the good times roll."

[Dayna · Rating 4 out of 5]

After our little daytrip to Louisiana, I thought this book was quite cute and captures the spirit of the bayou.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weird book.

[Polly · Rating 5 out of 5]

"she thought her world was a sweet little egg" I may have never seen so many great one liners in a picture book. It truly is musical.

[Tibia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a refreshing and clever children's book based on the bayou culture. My favorite quote: "When Joe Beebee was a boy he lay in bed at night and listened to his Uncle Willie's fiddle music sliding past live oaks and Chinaberry trees, and into his upstairs room. Music was quilt and pillow to that boy."

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun. Do note that it's much too long for little children, but perfect for schoolchildren learning more about rural Louisiana or Zydeco music... or if they just want a good story with lively art. Includes informative back matter.

[Denise Ortakales · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE Melissa Sweet's illustrations!

[David Vintinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

She wanted to kill the rooster!

[Ellie Chenoweth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations are great and very funny.. they help move the plot