• Age: 6 to 9
• Grade: 1 to 4
• Reading age: 6 to 9

Narwhal and Jelly meet The Bad Guys in this brightly illustrated, downright hilarious chapter book graphic novel full of “sweet, wholesome fun” (BCCB) about what happens when a very cranky chicken is befriended by a very cheerful worm.

Cranky Chicken is, well, cranky. With one cranky eyebrow, cranky eyes, and even cranky, scratchy feet. But then one day, Cranky meets a very friendly worm named Speedy who wants nothing more than to be friends. Young readers will love seeing the mismatched friendship grow over the course of three charming and laugh-out-loud short adventures as Chicken and Speedy become BFFs (Best Feathered Friends) and Speedy shows Chicken how to look on the bright side.

Katherine Battersby is the critically acclaimed children’s author and illustrator of a number of children’s books, including Cranky Chicken, its sequel Party Animals, Perfect Pigeons, and Squish Rabbit, a CBC Children’s Choice Book. Her books have received glowing reviews in the New York Times and starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, and have been shortlisted for numerous Australian awards. Katherine lives in Ottawa, Canada. Visit her at KatherineBattersby.com.

Katherine Battersby's profile page

"Sweet, wholesome fun with plenty of chicken puns and wormy weirdness."

BCCB

"Delightful, simply illustrated panels are packed with expressive motion and silliness...Will make even the crankiest reader feel that thing that’s not cranky. (Happy!)"

Kirkus Reviews

"In pale jewel tones, Battersby’s simple panels feel breezy and contemporary; the comic companionship she develops between two complete opposites couldn’t be more endearing."

Publishers Weekly