As you know, the most recent Bobbledy Album issues a simple question: Where is My Chicken? Alas, resolution is not forthcoming. In the tension between the earnest desire to locate the chicken and the chicken’s refusal to be found likes the real intrigue of the album.
And yet, we invited kids to answer the question for themselves by including a coloring page along with the mailing when we sent the album.
A few kids have sent their drawings back to us, and I’m delighted to share their fine work.
Here is an amazing drawing from Iris. Actually, to call it a drawing is insufficient. It is, in fact, a comic (see the speech bubbles). And comic is also inadequate due to the gripping and dramatic nature of the narrative. Perhaps it is more deservedly labeled an “epic”?
Not only is Iris self-identifying as the missing chicken (or, one might argue, the missing chicken is self-identifying as Iris), but Iris the chicken is sporting a pair of pink underpants that contains a cracker. If you do not get this reference, then you clearly have not yet listened to Where is My Chicken frequently enough. Go do something about that, please.
I am also drawn to the brilliance of the small, wingless chick in the bottom right corner, who is self identifying as “Iris baby.” Note that the chick has no underpants and no cracker. I cannot tell whether or not the chick is pleased or disappointed by this. It is a credit to the artist that she withholds this information, thus leaving us, the viewer, in a state of intentional, compelling powerlessness.
Moving on then, I will share this drawing from Sydney, whose chicken, while lacking pants, is beguiling in its own right.
I am particularly impressed with the blurred motion effect of the chicken’s anthropomorphized arm/wings, that seem to be in the process of delivering a series of lightning-quick ninja punches.
I’m not sure whether Sydney’s drawing answers the question of “Where is My Chicken?” but it sure does create the sense that, wherever the chicken is, she is a force to be reckoned with.
Thanks, Iris and Sidney, for sharing your drawings. As for the rest of you Bobbledy kids, we’d love to see what sorts of chickens you’ve been drawing if you’d like to share them with us.
And if anyone actually figures out where the chicken is, PLEASE let us know.