Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer
by Kelly Jones, illustrated by Katie Kath
Alfred A. Knopf, 2015. 216 pgs. Fantasy

Sophie Brown and her family have moved to her Great-Uncle Jim's farm because her father has lost his job and her mother is trying to support the family on what she makes as a freelance writer. Sophie's dad doesn't have much time to spend with her because he is looking for work and trying to figure out how to run a neglected farm from a broken down house. Sophie's mom is busy writing articles about how to "Decorate for Fall with Farm Tools." So Sophie has time and room to explore, and, in the process to meet a little white chicken whom she names Henrietta after the chicken in Daniel Pinkwater's The Hoboken Chicken Emergency. Sophie doesn't know much about raising chickens, especially a chicken like Henrietta who seems to have telekinetic powers. As Sophie tries to find all of Uncle Jim's scattered flock of "exceptional poultry," she seeks advice by letters from Agnes of Redwood Farm Supply; her beloved abuelita Garcia-Gonzalez, who is dead; Uncle Jim, who is dead, all the while trying to outwit and outmaneuver the chicken-thieving Ms. Griegson, who is not dead. Pictures and text of this charming book will have youngsters (and their elders) laughing out loud and cheering Sophie and her family on against weird and trying odds. Unusual Chickens . . . should clearly be in the running for the Newbery Award, but it might be too much fun to win.

Comments

Display: Dino-mite Reads

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs By Mo Willems New York: Balzar + Bray, 2012. Picture Book. "Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl. Definitely not!" --Editor Smart Vs. Strong! Written by Jill Esbaum Illustrated by Miles Thompson New York: Simon Spotlight, 2021. Easy Reader. 64 pages. "When Thunder gets stuck in quicksand, Cluck uses his smarts to free his friend." --Editor How Dinosaurs Went Extinct Written by Ame Dyckman Illustrated by Jennifer Harney New York: Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book. "When a child in a museum asks how dinosaurs became extinct, Dad co

Review: The Hidden Dragon

The Hidden Dragon By Melissa Marr New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023. Fiction. 161 pages. Three children, Otter, London, and Sophia, live in a fantasy world with dragons. Otter (short for Ottilie) is the daughter of a ship captain, and she loves the sea and its dragons. London is a stowaway boy, searching for a new life full of adventure. Sophia lives in a thief house with other children, all dedicated to helping each other and trying to make the kingdom better. As trouble begins to brew both on land and at sea, these three heroes realize that maybe it's up to the kids to make things right. Readers experience the book from multiple perspectives, and with a bit of mystery and adventure, this is an amazing fantasy read. With the inspiring message that children truly can make a difference, readers will enjoy how each character fights for what's right, even when it's inconvenient. The ending is resolved a little quickly, but this is a great read for all "hatchlings."

Review: How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest?

How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? Written by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe Illustrated by Aaron Cushley Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2023. Informational. In this fascinating nonfiction adventure, unique forms of transportation like hot air balloons and zeppelins take readers to 12 of the most extreme locations on Earth and beyond. As the adventurer arrives in each new locale, from Lake Maracaibo--the world's most electric place--to Zavodovski Island--the world's stinkiest place--they are fully immersed into the scene around them. The text describes the distinctive sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and sensations characteristic to each place, supported by the delightful illustrations. Each stop also shares stories of real adventurers braving the elements. Readers big and small will learn something new in this exciting armchair adventure. The real adventurer anecdotes highlight both well-known and less-discussed figures, of diverse backgrounds and abilities. The illustrations provide ev

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog