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. K-Gr 2—The aptly named Cranky Chicken is grouchy about everything. When she meets Speedy, a spunky worm, the two spark up an unlikely friendship and eventually become BFFs (best feathered friends). Chicken and Speedy learn what it means to be friends and have adventures, and between each chapter section are pun-laden comic panels. The vocabulary is accessible for early readers, although emerging readers may struggle with the hand lettering. The warm pastel coloring and large, full-color, full-page comics, drawn appealingly to look as though they were rendered by a child, are sure to appeal to the intended age range. Themes of friendship and overcoming fears, with a dose of humor, will be relatable. VERDICT This early reader graphic novel about two unlikely friends will likely be a hit with fans of friendship stories; it's also a good introduction to graphic novel reading.—Ellen Conlin, Naperville P. L., IL "Sweet, wholesome fun with plenty of chicken puns and wormy weirdness." ― BCCB "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 "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 Katherine Battersby is the critically acclaimed children’s author and illustrator of a number of children’s books, including the Cranky Chicken series, 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. Visit her at KatherineBattersby.com.