Beloved illustrator, poultry breeder will do presentation on Jan. 18 during event on the grounds of the Eastern State Exposition in West Springfield.
Beloved children’s book author and illustrator Jan Brett will conduct a presentation and book signing for her latest book, “Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella,” at this year’s Northeastern Poultry Congress, taking place Jan. 18 and 19 on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition, in West Springfield. Brett, an award-winning breeder of fancy chickens who keeps dozens of the birds at her Norwell home, decided to feature the poultry in her own spin on a classic fairy tale.
“I think anybody who keeps chickens knows they have certain personalities,” said Brett, who will do her presentation on Jan. 18. “Sometimes we talk about how they’re a troupe of actors — there’s one that’s a grouchy old man, one a young ingénue who’s very flirty, one who’s self-important, the mothers who are dedicated to their babies, and the males who are very protective. They really lend themselves to stories.”
Beloved childrenâÂÂs book author and illustrator Jan Brett, who is also an award-winning breeder of fancy chickens, will do a book signing for her latest book, âÂÂCinders: A Chicken Cinderella,â on Jan. 18 at 1:30 p.m. during at this yearâÂÂs Northeastern Poultry Congress on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition, in West Springfield. “Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella,” is set in a snowy Russian winter. Cinders, the most picked-upon hen in the flock, and her sisters, are invited to the ball. Cinders arrives dressed so beautifully that her sisters don’t recognize her, and Prince Cockerel is intrigued. In the end, she wins his heart, with her white silvery eggs and the perfect fit of a forgotten crystal slipper.
“This story just really evolved out of this ability that chickens have to kind of mimic human emotions; it’s very easy to transpose our emotions onto them,” Brett said. “I had a great time with them — dressing them up with clothes and giving them personalities.”
Brett, who writes both her own original stories and transforms traditional fairy tales with her own interpretations, is perhaps best known for her elaborately detailed illustrations. She traveled to Russia to conduct research for the story, and examined detailed costumes passed on through generations in a Russian museum.
“I thought these clothes were so amazing,” she said. “I love setting the story in a different place and time.”
Brett said the idea of putting clothing on animals is actually very traditional in artwork in many cultures.
“With an animal, it makes it a little bit further away,” she said. “For children, it’s a good way to talk about certain things — jealousy, or true love, or striving.”
Brett said she hopes children enjoy the story.
“I hope they’ll be enthralled with this lovely story,” she said. “It was never one of my favorites when I was little. I was the oldest, and the oldest is always really mean and awful in fairy tales. The youngest is always kind and beautiful, and her father loves her the best. I laid off on the meanness and had them be kind of self-important and a little ridiculous.”
Brett said the book is funny, and she hopes it makes readers laugh when they use their own imaginations.
“I think using your imagination is something you can develop as a child, and the more you do it — whether reading in a passive way or being a creator yourself — I think it helps with problem solving,” she said. “To be able to make adjustments and solve problems and kind of meander and set your path by using your imagination — it’s just a little bit of a road map.”
Brett will do her presentation and signing at 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 18. The presentation, in partnership with Northampton’s Broadside Bookshop, takes place in the Mallary Complex at the Big E fairgrounds.
Chicken lovers of all kinds can find something to enjoy at the event, Brett said.
“There’s probably 70 different breeds (on display),” she said. “Some have puffy pompoms on their heads, some have long legs, some short legs, some are striped, polka dotted, pure white or pure black.”
Chicken breeders travel from all over the region to attend this show to show their birds. For her part, Brett shows white crested black Polish chickens, and will also be selling some.
It’s a great place to find uncommon chicken breeds, she said.
“If you’re interested in getting some of the rare ones, some of the historic ones, a goose or turkey, you can go there and buy them,” she said.
Buying them at the congress also allows chicken raisers to contact the breeders later on, if they have any questions or concerns about the chickens. The congress also includes an interesting contest called “Funky Chicken,” in which chickens which have unusual characteristics are judged.
“They don’t have to be purebred,” Brett said. If you have a chicken that’s really adorable, but looks like a movie star or something, that chicken is great for this contest.”
Brett warns newbies that the congress may not be what they expect.
“It’s like going to a circus of chickens,” she said. “It’s very loud. Each rooster wants to prove he has the loudest crow.”
The Northeastern Poultry Congress will be held Jan. 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Jan. 19, from 8 a.m. to noon. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.thebige.com.
“Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella” is available at all major book retailers. For more information on Jan Brett, visit www.janbrett.com Â