Gr 2-5 In this second book of the series, superhero chicken, Gordon Bleu, and his little brother Benny (still partially in his super-strength shell) come to the aid of Miss Honey Comb, a well-loved opera singer in Fowladelphia when she is chicknapped by the evil Dr. Screech. Dr. Screech plans to use her super-loud voice and his megaphone to shake the city to bits. Gordon Bleu and Benny save Miss Honey Comb and Fowladelphia and make it home by dinnertime. Full-color comic-style illustrations with short blocks of text may help readers transition from beginning chapter books to traditional chapter books. Many jokes and puns will keep the attention of eager new readers looking for a fast-paced, funny adventure with unlikely superheroes. Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa

Second-grade chick Gordon Blue and his younger (not-yet-fully-hatched) brother Benny are accidentally dipped into a vat of toxic sludge that transforms them into superheroes. In these openers, the pair must save Fowladelphia from two different villains. Jam-packed with poultry puns, this transitional series uses language appropriately challenging for emerging readers while retaining a comfort level with a hybrid of traditional and comic full-color illustrations.