Poultrygeist by Eric Geron, illustrated by Pete Oswald. Candlewick, 2021. 9781536210507
Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 5
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Picture book
What did you like about the book? Poultrygeist is a book for those with a strong stomach and a twisted sense of humor – luckily this reviewer has both. Chicken sets out to cross the road to get to the other side but instead finds themself on THE OTHER SIDE (after an inadvertent interaction with a Mack truck – oops!). There’s plenty of coaching from the other dead (non-dead?) animals on what it means to be and act like a poultrygeist but chicken is a bit worried about being too scary. I chuckled at the story and admired the illustrations of chicken’s after life (dark and glowing). This seems to be a great book for scary/not scary story times. Watch the illustrations for added theatrical moments.
Anything you didn’t like about it? Well…(spoiler alert) the final pages show a squirrel getting ready to cross the road. I can’t decide whether adding another creature is too much of a good thing. I think it is.
To whom would you recommend this book? Libraries with fun picture books, anyone with a darker sense of humor, libraries and classrooms that host scary/not scary story times.
Who should buy this book? Libraries that serve K and up
Where would you shelve it ? Picture books
Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Yes, it’s pretty funny
Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Pam Watts-Flavin, Head of Children’s Services, Robbins Library, Arlington, MA.
Date of review: September 12, 2021
Youth Services Book Review 
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