Elana K. Arnold

Starla Jean is a girl full of endless moxie and razor-sharp cleverness. When she spots a scrawny, wandering chicken at the local park, she feels an instant and undeniable connection. Starla Jean just knows in her heart that she and this unusual bird are absolutely destined to be best friends. Her father, highly skeptical of the situation, issues a clear challenge: if she can manage to catch the speedy chicken, she is allowed to keep it. Anyone who knows Starla Jean knows she has never backed down from a dare in her entire life. What follows is a hilarious and determined pursuit as Starla utilizes all her wits to capture her feathered prize. This charming story introduces a highly spirited young heroine who knows exactly what she wants and will go to great, comedic lengths to achieve her goals, proving that sometimes the best friendships come from the most unexpected places.

The highly determined Starla Jean is back, and she is entirely focused on executing the most important mission of the year: throwing the ultimate first birthday party for her baby sister, Willa. Starla has a comprehensive checklist to guarantee success. She needs to string up beautiful decorations, keep her beloved pet chicken Opal Egg out of trouble, and gather all the necessary ingredients to bake a spectacular cake. She also desperately hopes Opal Egg will finally lay a real egg in time for the celebration. With invitations sent and the new neighbor Nate's mischievous kitten thrown into the mix, the stage is set for a wild afternoon. Naturally, nothing goes exactly according to Starla's meticulous plan. In true Starla Jean fashion, a series of hilarious and unexpected surprises threatens to completely derail the festivities. Between wrangling farm animals in the house and attempting to bake a masterpiece, Starla must learn to go with the flow and discover that sometimes the most chaotic surprises make for the absolute best birthday memories.

Starla Jean is officially a chicken expert, which means she knows firsthand that walking a chicken on a leash is no simple task. However, a little difficulty has never stopped the intrepid Starla Jean from doing what she wants. Accompanied by her beloved pet chicken, Opal Egg, and her baby sister, Willa, Starla sets out for a seemingly ordinary stroll through the neighborhood. But this walk quickly transforms into an exciting investigation when they stumble upon a mysterious, out-of-place bead glittering on the sidewalk. When they spot another bead shortly after, Starla realizes they have a genuine conundrum on their hands! A trail of clues is unfolding right beneath their feet. Now, it is entirely up to Starla, Opal Egg, and their friends to track down the evidence, piece together the puzzle, and discover exactly who is losing these colorful beads. Armed with sharp observation skills and her signature moxie, Starla Jean is ready to crack the case in this hilarious and charming neighborhood adventure.