Going for the Bronze: Still Bitter, More Baggage

This is the fun stuff: "Going for the Bronze: Still Bitter, More Baggage" by Sloane Tanen is a sequel to "Bitter with Baggage Seeks Same: The Life and Times of Some Chickens." This is a hilariously silly, irreverent little picture book of chicken peeps posed with miniature props in "human" settings. Alongside the yellow chicks are tiny props such as food items, books, hats and cell phones. The brightly colored dioramas include cars, doll furniture and even a SWAT helicopter. Venues range from a coffee bar to the Grand Canyon. It's all a sort of bizarre cross between "Thomas the Tank Engine" and "Sex and the City." This is NOT a children's book, as it features adult situations and language. The captions are just plain nutty. Some are subtle, some are outrageous, and at least one I didn't even understand. But they are so much fun!

I was thrilled to see a second book by Sloane Tanen, along the same lines as Bitter with Baggage, in the bookstore, recently. I immediately bought it, and as a last-minute thought, brought it along to my book club. Not only did it give us a light reprieve from our regular conversation, but some of the scenes that Tanen has artfully put together rang so close to home that we ended up talking about how we related to the pictures of fuzzy chicks, instead. (The urge to hang yourself after one too many conversations about a friend's baby's pooping habits, anyone?) We all enjoyed it very much, and it has turned out to be a great idea for holiday presents. I hope there will be a third book!

I love Sloane Tanen's sense of humor and her wonderful chickens. I didn't think I could laugh harder than I did with the first book, but this one is every bit as funny, and in some cases funnier as it builds on a lot of the humor in Bitter With Baggage. Get both for xmas presents for your friends, then buy a handful of Where Is Coco Going? for your friends' toddlers. My 2 year old insists on reading it every night. These books also make excellent get well presents for sick friends as they are the perfect pick-me-ups.

As funny as the first book! Being bitter was never so much fun.

Sloane Tanen has once again taken a clever and intimate look at life and presented it - with the return of her delightful chickens - in the best of all possible ways. How much more fun it is to learn these truths through her wit and charm. "Still Bitter" is the book to buy for anyone you know who needs to lighten up.