A happy-go-plucky rhyme adventure of chickens frolicking in an urban environment as they run rampant all around town!
"Urban backyard chickens go on a madcap tour of the city in this rhyming romp. . . the narrative bounces off the tongue. The marker-bright illustrations are frenetic and filled with humorous details." --Kirkus Reviews
"Hysterical rhyming book about chickens escaping from their yard. Funny shenanigans ensue with each towns-person and animal they encounter. This will appeal to lots of kids around here whose families own chickens!" --Buttonwood Books & Toys, bookseller recommendation
"Reading this out loud was so much fun! The rhyming and rhythm added a musical element to reading the book. And within the rhymes there are great vocabulary moments, too! . . . The backmatter of the book gives information about keeping urban chickens and some fun chicken facts. It is a great way to connect the story to science." --Unleashing Readers
Chickens on the loose. Chickens on the lam. Zipping from the yard, As quickly as they can.
Chickens don't just live on farms--they're in the city too! In the store, on the street, they bring mayhem and excitement to all the surprised people. See where these mischievous chickens go in this brightly illustrated picture book told in verse. Also included at the back are fun facts and tips for the urban chicken farmer.
1137509861
Chickens on the Loose
A happy-go-plucky rhyme adventure of chickens frolicking in an urban environment as they run rampant all around town!
"Urban backyard chickens go on a madcap tour of the city in this rhyming romp. . . the narrative bounces off the tongue. The marker-bright illustrations are frenetic and filled with humorous details." --Kirkus Reviews
"Hysterical rhyming book about chickens escaping from their yard. Funny shenanigans ensue with each towns-person and animal they encounter. This will appeal to lots of kids around here whose families own chickens!" --Buttonwood Books & Toys, bookseller recommendation
"Reading this out loud was so much fun! The rhyming and rhythm added a musical element to reading the book. And within the rhymes there are great vocabulary moments, too! . . . The backmatter of the book gives information about keeping urban chickens and some fun chicken facts. It is a great way to connect the story to science." --Unleashing Readers
Chickens on the loose. Chickens on the lam. Zipping from the yard, As quickly as they can.
Chickens don't just live on farms--they're in the city too! In the store, on the street, they bring mayhem and excitement to all the surprised people. See where these mischievous chickens go in this brightly illustrated picture book told in verse. Also included at the back are fun facts and tips for the urban chicken farmer.
A happy-go-plucky rhyme adventure of chickens frolicking in an urban environment as they run rampant all around town!
"Urban backyard chickens go on a madcap tour of the city in this rhyming romp. . . the narrative bounces off the tongue. The marker-bright illustrations are frenetic and filled with humorous details." --Kirkus Reviews
"Hysterical rhyming book about chickens escaping from their yard. Funny shenanigans ensue with each towns-person and animal they encounter. This will appeal to lots of kids around here whose families own chickens!" --Buttonwood Books & Toys, bookseller recommendation
"Reading this out loud was so much fun! The rhyming and rhythm added a musical element to reading the book. And within the rhymes there are great vocabulary moments, too! . . . The backmatter of the book gives information about keeping urban chickens and some fun chicken facts. It is a great way to connect the story to science." --Unleashing Readers
Chickens on the loose. Chickens on the lam. Zipping from the yard, As quickly as they can.
Chickens don't just live on farms--they're in the city too! In the store, on the street, they bring mayhem and excitement to all the surprised people. See where these mischievous chickens go in this brightly illustrated picture book told in verse. Also included at the back are fun facts and tips for the urban chicken farmer.
Jane Kurtz is an award-winning children's book author, speaker, educator, and she is on the faculty of the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Children's and YA Literature. She is a co-founder of the board of Ethiopia Reads, an organization that brings books and literacy to the children in Ethiopia, where Jane grew up. She also heads the creative team of Ready Set Go Books, a project of Open Hearts Big Dreams to create fun, colorful, local language books for people in Ethiopia. Jane currently lives in Portland, Oregon.
John Joseph is an artist, illustrator, elementary school teacher, avid gardener, and community leader. He earned a degree in visual arts from Colorado State University and a Masters from Lesley University, and has won the ACP Excellence in Publishing Award for Best Picture Book. He lives in Colorado with his wife, two sons, and a German shepherd.
Reading Group Guide
Chickens breaking loose. Chickens on the lam. Zipping from the yard, as quickly as they can. [There is one younger chicken in the bunch.]
“Stop!” calls the girl. [The girl—aghast—has been feeding them.] But the chickens will not stop.
Chickens on the loose, racing down the street. [We see the girl, but she’s falling behind.]
Hopping up to window shop, clinging with their feet. [The chickens have hopped up on the window ledges to see inside.]
“Stop!” yells the owner. But the chickens will not stop.
Chickens on the loose. [We see the girl and the owner, not too close but giving chase.] They trot. They lope. They jog. They duck into a studio [yoga studio] to do some downward dog.
“Stop!” calls the yogi. But the chickens will not stop.
Chickens getting hungry, [Not too close, we see the girl, the owner, the yogi still in pursuit.] peckish from the chase. Taking stock, around the block a lovely foodcart space!
“Stop!” shouts a cook. [We see the chickens hastily helping themselves to things kids have dropped.] But the chickens will not stop.
Chickens quick and nimble… [We see them leaping over tables, dodging people, heading out of the food cart space]
run along the street, hitch a ride on skateboards [kids riding on the sidewalk; chickens have hopped on behind.] to rest their aching feet. [The chasers are still coming but far behind now.]
Chickens spot some paint cans— red and green and blue. [We see that a mural is being painted but the painters have taken a break for lunch.]
They hop right off and quickly add an element or two.
“Stop!” calls a cop. But the chickens will not stop.
No one can stop these chickens! [The policewoman is looking high and low and the chickens are crafty.] There’s a city to explore. They spot a hamster on a wheel. They sneak into the store.
They tiptoe up and down the aisles and then slip out the door.
“Stop!” shouts everybody. [We see that everyone has caught up: girl, owner, yogi, cook, cop.] But the chickens will not stop.
“No way!” they say. “We will not stay.” (It sounds like boc boc boc.)
Chickens dodge and scurry. They have to get away! Chickens in a hurry They want more time to play.
They charge around the corner…
Look out! Four dogs! A cat! [A dog walker is trying to control four dogs on leashes that are riled up by a cat.] Chickens leap and hurdle. [The chickens can get over the milling dogs but…]
The humans follow… [as the humans start coming around the corner]
SPLAT. [there’s a big pile-up of humans and dogs while the chickens escape.]
Chickens weary now. Much too tired to squawk. Much too tired to plot or plan. Almost too tired to walk.
Chickens droop and yawn. They flop down on a lawn. Plop plop Rain drops. They know they must go on.
Chickens safe at home, soothing tired legs. Time to put their feet up. Maybe lay some eggs.
Chickens fat and happy, snoozing on the roost.
Oops! Yikes! That old mood strikes…
Chickens on the loose! [We see that the youngest chicken has sneaked back out with his siblings in tow and they are admiring the mural—with perhaps puzzled painters studying it.]
