Curtis, C. P. (2005). Mr. Chickee's Funny Money. Yearling.
Summary
Wouldn't it be great to be a quadrillionare? But, what if someone handed you a quadrillion dollar bill with a familiar face on the front? Would you spend it? Is it even real? Fourth grader, Steven, is given the opportunity to find out what happens when readers follow him, his best friend Rufus, and the oversized pup Zoopy on a whimsical adventure running from the feds. When Steven, the head of his Detectives Club, decides to outsmart the feds, an adventurous story unfolds. The first of a fun duology, Mr. Chickee's Funny Money is a delight to read.
A Teacher's Perspective
Readers are plopped into the action Mise-en-scène, in the middle of the action, and the rest of the story is told in flashbacks from Steven's point of view. The adventure begins when his blind neighbor gives him a quadrillion dollars and the feds want it back.
Each chapter is headed with a fun title and small image that preludes what will happen in that scene. It would make a fun read-aloud for younger readers, especially around ages 7-10. It is different than Curtis's other popular novels and a great addition to any classroom library.
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In this video, Curtis discusses inspiration behind Mr. Chickee: