Chip by Kylie Howarth

We have had Chip in our library for a few months but I picked it up today because Chip has been listed for our CBCA Awards for 2017.  Kylie Howarth must be jumping for joy or perhaps looping the loop like her hero Chip.  Her web site is well worth exploring and even includes a colouring page. Chip is listed in the Early Childhood Picture book category.

Take a look at the cover.  The cheeky seagull named Chip is stealing the chip from his name. On the title page the chip is gone and only a smear of oil is left.

"Chip, like most other gulls ... was wild about fish and chips."

His home is by the sea with a convenient fish and chip van close by.

The supply of chips ends at the beach when a  "Do Not Feed The Gulls" sign is posted by Joe but like all good problem solvers Chip finds a solution.  The Air Show is coming.  The birds unite and perform a spectacular aerobatic routine.   Their photo appears on the front page of the local paper. Joe, the chip man, recognizes their talents as a way to win more customers and so he advertises the seagull show.   It is very popular.  There is now a long line of people wanting to buy his fish and chips.  Joe rewards his new friends with a delicious dinner each evening, not of chips but of fresh fish which he has just caught (look for his fishing rod on the last page). Everyone wins!

You can see a few pages of the book below and here on the publisher site.  Young children will enjoy the fold out pages and the long view as the seagulls fall in formation onto the top of Joe's Chip van. You could also have a discussion about feeding birds at the beach and in parks.  Are chips really the best food?  It would also be good to discuss ways Chip could solve his problem and the power of team work.  You could also compare this book with Gary which is listed in the same CBCA section. Here is a set of teaching notes for Chip.

I like the repeated refrain - it could be used for a song perhaps.

"He ate fat chips, skinny chips, soggy chips, sandy chips, crunchy little bits of chips and even spicy chilli-dipped chips."

When we read Chip next term we will also dip into some other books about seagulls which are a common sight at the beach near our school.

Max by Marc Martin

One satisfying aspect of any book is when you reach the ah ha moment - everything turns out as it should and perhaps even as you predicted.

Max is a happy seagull who lives by the sea.  He has made the perfect friendship with the owner of the local fish and chip shop.  "Max and Bob are very old friends. Max visits Bob every day. He keeps him company and greets the customers as they come in.  If Max behaves himself, Bob gives him a few chips."

Now we need a twist.  Business drops off in the little seaside town when a new Mega Mall is built nearby and so Bob sadly closes his shop. These are pages you will want to linger over and discuss.  The scene shows the Baker and Ice Cream shop are gone too.  Max waits and waits but eventually he flies high into the sky.  This is my favourite illustration (see below).  Max has a good nose.  He flies high above the city until he comes to a shop - yes it is a chip shop and yes it is Bob's shop!

Take a minute to look at the end papers.  You might see a unique form of bait for fishing.  You should also look for Marc Martin's first picture book in our library called A Forest.  Since Max was published in 2014 it might even be short listed for our CBCA awards.  Max is a simple story but the illustrations are so joyful and everyone will relate to Max himself and his love of chips!  If you would like to read some other books about chips check out Kinderbookswitheverything and the celebration of Chip Week.