Last year, I was volunteering in my daughter’s first grade class when a little boy told me a knock-knock joke.

Knock knock!
Who’s there?
Interrupting Cow!
Interrupting Cow, wh–
MOOOOOOOO!

This was cute  — the first 32 times, at least — so when I saw Interrupting Chicken on the shelf at our library, I thought of that joke and how much fun it was for the miniature comedian.  This book is just as fun.

This 40-page picture book features a father chicken and his daughter reading bedtime stories.  Papa reminds the little chicken before he begins reading that she should not interrupt the story.  And, yet, as the title suggests, she just cannot help herself.   She should really come with a spoiler alert, since she not only interrupts, she interrupts with a way for the story characters to save themselves or solve their problems.  Papa tries a few different classic stories, but the anticipation and knowing the ending proves too much for her.  She interrupts each time!   He finally gives up and asks the little chicken to tell him a bedtime story of her own creation.

Author and illustrator David Ezra Stein has created a colorful and humorous story that is likely quite familiar to many families.  Interrupting Chicken is a 2011 Caldecott Honor Book, and it’s no wonder why.  It’s enjoyable for adults and kids alike, and it gives parents a great springboard to talk about social skills and turn-taking.

Give it a whirl at bedtime and see if your little chickens can guess the ending — mine didn’t!