Product Description

The author of Max Makes a Million takes young readers into a mysterious world peopled by a composer, a firewoman, a doorman, a short-order cook, an astronomer, and individuals with other fascinating careers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #246911 in Books
• Published on: 1993-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 400 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Unpredictable as ever, Kalman ( Max in Hollywood, Baby ) dons the cap of career counselor in her idiosyncratic and loquacious book. Speaking in the first person, Kalman presents biographies of various relatives and acquaintances (and one working dachshund), focusing on their occupations. She translates diner parlance (the title means "an order of chicken soup, to go"); delves into the mysteries of smellologist Dr. Mel Smellman ("If your mouth's got a smell, BOY can he tell"); and introduces a photojournalist ("She wanted to be a painter. Only faster"). Each spread faces evenly spaced, multicolored text with a painted portrait of the subject. From a wheelchair-bound jingle-composer to an "experimenter" dressed entirely in soda cans, to an architect over whose head floats a giant lemon (the whimsical idea for a fruit-shaped candy shop), each is rendered with the trademark Kalman quirkiness. The youngest readers will enjoy the musicality of the text, while older members of the audience--even those old enough to be considering career changes themselves--will find the silly anecdotes and subversive humor engaging. Kalman gives outwardly plain jobs their due, imaginatively depicting many individuals and highlighting the extraordinary attributes they bring to daily tasks. All ages.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Other authors have asked children to consider what they'll do with their lives, but never like this. ``You were not. Now you is...And in between eating chocolate licorice and jumping on a pogo stick, you will find your job. Your work. Your it. Your you. It's true.'' With less interest in work's necessity than in its infinite variety and satisfactions, Kalman--in her own inimitable fashion- -presents a gallery of neighborhood characters--among them, Leopold Leitner, office peddler, who always has something different in his suitcase; cousin Harriet's father Eddie, who sits in a wheelchair at the piano and composes songs like the famous ``Bubba Bubba Bubba''; a sister who also sits at the piano, playing ``Für Elise'' until ``even the fruit on the table was screaming for her to stop''; cousin Venezuela Katz the astronomer; and Lois Mungay, who fights fires because she hates them, and ``takes twelve seconds from bed to truck'' when the alarm sounds. Kalman's frenzied, relentlessly verbal stream-of-consciousness is enhanced by the large blocks of boldface in a dazzling array of sophisticated colors harmonizing with the high-energy, superficially childlike art (flat figures, deceptively random-seeming compositions, large brush strokes, bright, contrasting colors), offering a series of wonderfully individual portraits. A tour de force, less self- indulgent (and less hilarious) than her ``Max'' books, and with broader appeal. (Picture book. 8+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

One of the best children's books ever---to go, please
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.

crazy wit and funky pics is chicken soup boots
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.

A classic by a great artist/author
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.