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Candlewick Press Acquires Picture Book Follow-up to David Ezra Stein’s Caldecott Honorree, Interrupting Chicken

SOMERVILLE, MA — Award-winning picture book creator David Ezra Stein will debut a stand-alone follow-up picture book toNew York Times bestseller Interrupting Chicken in 2017, Candlewick Press announced today. Interrupting Chicken was first published in 2010 and has won numerous awards, including a Cybils Award, an SCBWI Golden Kite Honor, and a Caldecott Honor. There are currently more than 650,000 copies of the book in print across all editions. Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise is scheduled for a U.S. release on September 12, 2017.

The little red chicken is back in this hilarious sequel and is as endearingly silly as ever as she teaches Papa what every good story should have: an elephant of surprise. Or, as Papa suggests, is it an element of surprise? Full of the same boisterous charm that made Interrupting Chicken beloved by readers, this gleeful follow-up is sure to delight fans of stories, surprises, and elephants alike. World rights to Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise in all languages were acquired by Sarah Ketchersid, Candlewick’s senior executive editor, from Holly McGhee of Pippin Properties. The book will be edited by Ketchersid and designed by senior designer Pam Consolazio.

Of this new book, Ketchersid says, “It’s rare to have a sequel that is just as funny and surprising as the first book, but this one truly succeeds! I’ve read this story many, many times now, and I still laugh out loud every time. I think it’s safe to say that David has reached another level of humor.” 

ABOUT THE CREATOR

David Ezra Stein is the author-illustrator of many picture books, including Interrupting Chicken, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor; Leaves, winner of an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award; I’m My Own Dog; and Dinosaur Kisses. His latest picture book, Ice Boy , tells the story of a daring ice cube in search of adventure and will release on April 11, 2017. David lives with his family in Kew Gardens, New York.

Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise: On-sale September 12, 2017 • HC: 978-0-7636-8842-4 • Price: $16.99 ($23.00 CAN) • ages 4 – 8 • 40 pages

ABOUT CANDLEWICK PRESS

Candlewick Press is an independent publisher based in Somerville, Massachusetts. For over twenty years, Candlewick has published outstanding children’s books for readers of all ages, including books by award-winning authors and illustrators such as the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature emeritus Kate DiCamillo, M. T. Anderson, Jon Klassen, and Laura Amy Schlitz; the widely acclaimed Judy Moody, Mercy Watson, and ’Ology series; and favorites such as  Guess How Much I Love You Where’s Waldo? , and Maisy. Candlewick is part of the Walker Books Group, together with Walker Books U.K. in London and Walker Books Australia. The Walker Books Group has a unique ownership structure that includes all of its employees worldwide. Visit Candlewick online at  www.candlewick.com.

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