Animal Crackers Fly the Coop

Book excerpt: Kevin O'Malley is going for joke with a tongue-and-chicken barn yarn that's sure to appeal to fans of his New York Times bestseller, Gimme Cracked Corn and I Will Share. Turning the Grimm's fairy tale The Brementown Musicians on its funny bone, O'Malley has revised the classic story of four animals who part ways with their respective farmers to explore their artistic sides, this time sending them in search of belly laughs . . . and a great location for a comedy club. When they foil a band of robbers using their joke-telling talents, the animals--including one determined comedi-hen--finally prove they can kill the crowd with laughter.