- Booklist. $39 for a year. A rare piece of currency originating from a blind old man leads the government to trail a boy, his dog, and his friends. The protagonist, Steven, is given a quadrillion-dollar bill by his blind--and somewhat mysterious--neighbor, Mr. Chickee, for all the help Steven provides him on his weekly grocery shopping trip. I think this book is pretty funny. But Steven and his best friends, Russell and Zoopy the giant dog, … It reminds me of some of second-banana comedy books I read as a kid, such as. Bryan Washington, the acclaimed author of 2019’s short story collection Lot, has returned with his debut novel, Memorial. Enlisting the help of his friend Russell, the two must stand up to the black-suited agents of the Department of Treasury. Become a Member and discover books that entertain, engage & enlighten. Could it be a quadrillion dollar bill? More importantly, what would you do if the Men in Black were after you, and your only means of escape was an enormous slobbery dog? Refresh and try again. Simply put, if it's written by Christopher Paul Curtis, my advice to anyone is: Read it. The book would be good to read to younger children or even have younger reader's read this. In my continual search to find light-hearted books with African-American protagonists for reluctant readers, Mr. Chickee is one of the few that met my hopes.

Curtis is an alumnus of the University of Mic. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel Steven has received a quadrillion dollar bill imprinted with the face of James Brown on it from his neighbor Mr. Chickee and now it’s up to him to figure out if this very real looking bill could be authentic. Could it be real? As the mother of a fifth grader (who has to read this book for her Battle of the Books competition this year) I was not in love with the main character of this book. Was not sure what I was getting myself into when first reading this book.

A deus ex machina reference made this mom laugh. But one day, the old man gives him an envelope instead with a single dollar bill in it. It is forbidden to copy anything for publication elsewhere without written permission from the copyright holder. Fun and light-hearted first story in his Mr. Chickee series, Christopher Paul Curtis includes elements common in his other books (set in Flint, Michigan, for example) but provides a whole new kind of reading experience. 'There's plenty of action, and the humor is high--though much of it, unfortunately, is at the expense of Steven's father. But Steven and his best friends, Russell and Zoopy the giant dog, are more than a match for the Feds. Could it be real? One such example is Bucking the Sarge, which is about a fifteen year old boy named Luther T. Ferrel, who is in a running battle with his slum-lord mother. Funny, at times irreverent, and with some refreshing surprises, Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money delivers. Search String: Summary | Usually, Mr. Chickee buys ginger ale and potato chips for Steven as a reward. Hilarious! Mr. Chickee is Steven’s blind neighbour who gives him an envelop with a quadrillion-dollar bill in it.
Steven is apart of the Flint’s Future Detectives, who wants to figure out if the quadrillion-dollar bill is real or not. I have enjoyed all the other novels I have read by Christopher Paul Curtis (Bud, Not Buddy and Bucking the Sarge) but this audio version did not do this story any justice. Joe Holt, who is Af.
Mr. Chickee's Funny Money had me a little concerned at first, but he told a story that is appropriate for middle readers, but can make any reader laugh out loud.

However, it’s a bill that Steven has never seen before. ” Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money (2005) details the adventures of Steven Carter, an overachieving seven-year-old who aspires to become a detective.

When he goes to the Department of the Treasury to find out if the bill could be real, he meets Agent Fondoo and he thinks there's something fishy about him. All rights reserved. To see what your friends thought of this book, Mr. Chickee's Funny Money (Mr. Chickee, #1). The story is multiethnic in nature because of the setting, urban, and the main characters who are African-American. It’s not what you think. Mr. Chickee goes out of town immediately after, leaving Steven to figure out if the. Author Link to Christopher Paul Curtis's Website, Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. Unbeknownst to Steven, Agent Fondoo has just gotten a memo about the missing quadrillion dollar bill and the huge reward for finding it. I would not recommend this audio version, and if I have the time, I will try to check out the book version of the text and see if my experience is more enjoyable. I think there is a sequel/new adventure, so I hope it's as funny as this one! “Once Zoopy started woofing you never knew when he'd stop. I am giving this book to every little boy (age 7-12) who says he can't find anything to read! I especially enjoyed the coded dialogue between Stephen and his dad - in the form of James Brown song lyrics!

Genre: Novels Unbeknownst to Steven, Agent Fondoo has just gotten a memo about the missing quadrillion dollar bill and the huge reward for finding it. He clearly understands kids and knows how to write for them and in their voice. It is hard for someone like me to get into an audio book just in general but it becomes even more difficult when there is no animation in the reader's voice or rhythm in the reading. The story follows... Mr. Chickee, the genial blind man in the neighborhood, gives 9-year-old Steven a mysterious bill with 15 zeros on it and the image of a familiar but startling face.

January 23rd 2007

160 pages Two kids, a dog, and a slightly wacky adventure are mixed in with winks for the parents. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money had me a little concerned at first, but he told a story that is appropriate for middle readers, but can make any reader laugh out loud. Steven, member of the Future Flint Detective Club, has been given a quadrillion dollar bill by his friend Mr. Chickee. Steven has received a quadrillion dollar bill imprinted with the face of James Brown on it from his neighbor Mr. Chickee and now it’s up to him to figure out if this very real looking bill could be authentic. Christopher Paul Curtis continues to hit the mark with just the right combination of humor, mystery, suspense, accessible reading level, and quick plot. Junior Detective Steven receives a mysterious dollar bill from neighbor Mr. Chickee, not only does the currency have more zeros than Steven can imagine, it boasts a picture of motown legend James Brown! Irreverent and goofy, this book takes Christopher Paul Curtis' unmistakable talent for creating very real child characters and blends it with a romping mystery whose lack of realism Curtis acknowledges with a wink and a nod. An audio-book read by James Holt is enjoyable, though the actor plays it a little on the babyish side for for my taste. Joe Holt, who is African American had to have the most neutral voice I have ever heard. (For example, a mom who runs to the bookstore for a child-rearing book every time something she can't explain happens.)

Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info, and giveaways by email. Fun and light-hearted first story in his Mr. Chickee series, Christopher Paul Curtis includes elements common in his other books (set in Flint, Michigan, for example) but provides a whole new kind of reading experience. Well, Agent Fondoo of the U.S. Treasury Department and his team of Secret Government Agents are determined to get that money back! Reader Reviews, A Girl is A Body of Waterby Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, A powerful portrait of a young Ugandan girl and her family. in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's online-magazine that keeps our members abreast of notable and high-profile books publishing in the coming weeks. Curtis is an alumnus of the University of Michigan-Flint. There were also some heartfelt scenes snuck in amongst the sublime comedic syntax. The adventure is goofy and reads a bit like a kid spy movie. After all, Steven is the president of the Flint Future Detectives Club, and the inventor of fantastic spying and detecting equipment such as the Snoopeeze 9000! Well, Agent Fondoo of the U.S. Treasury Department and his team of Secret Government Agents are determined to get that money back!