Chicken Soup, Boots

A friend of mine gave me "What Pete Ate" for Christmas a few years ago and...oh wait...that was a present for my 2 year old daughter, but it quickly became one of my personal favorites. Since then I've continued to add to my Maira Kalman collection. Chicken Soup, Boots is everything you'd expect from a Kalman: funny, artsy, smart, for grown-ups. It is not a book to be read in 10 minutes. It's wordy. Too wordy to engage my now 3 1/2 year old, I tried. She did enjoy the artwork, though.

This is a delightful book visually and equally fun to read. I bought it for the illustrations, and found it just what I wanted. Whimsical and charming - great for kids and for adults who enjoy a little charm occationally.

Maira Kalman is that rare writer for children whose books are clever enough for adults to enjoy, even after the repeated readings this book is sure to elicit. This title is my Kalman favorite, but it shares with her others a tilted humor, totally strange and yet completely recognizable characters, and a passion for life's pleasures, namely meaningful work. Though there's a lot of text here [this is no quick read the likes of "Goodnight Moon," folks], "Chicken Soup, Boots" begs to be read aloud for the patter, song and joy of its language, so have a glass of water standing by.Like Alexandra Day's book "Frank and Ernest," whose subject in part is diner language, "Chicken Soup, Boots" features some great diner talk, beginning with its title which means a chicken soup to go. But Barney March, "an eight-armed octopus called the short order cook" is not the only character whose job is featured here. The book is about people who have found what they love to do, and describes a bit about how they do it. There are doctors and doormen, astronomers and architects, piano teachers and performance artists. This is a long book crammed with vignettes and memories, joyous accounts of satisfying work, which Kalman calls, "your job. Your work. Your it. Your you."Each reading of "Chicken Soup, Boots" to a child accomplishes the double task of empowering the listener to become anything he or she wants, while reassuring the reader that it's not too late for adults, either. Kalman's paintings, as visual as her writing is musical, depict people who are who they are, flaws and all.For those seeking diversity represented in children's books, you will find here a pianist who composes pop songs at the keyboard from his wheelchair, and characters of varied race and language backgrounds, all working hard and enjoying life in New York City since, like many of Kalman's books, it is set there. For all its tilt, angle and color, "Chicken Soup, Boots" is a comforting, reassuring picture book for this confusing world, in which work both defines and undoes us. It will be a much appreciated book for artistic and philosophical children and their parents...Kalman is a true original in the world of children's book publishing.

maira kalman is filled with spontaneity, treasures and lyrics. the art is a trip of it's own. a reason in itself to buy the book. this one is crazy rhymes. funny names. funky faces. jobs. odd jobs. odder jobs. and the oddest jobs i wish i could get.