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Chicken Little
For children who love silly stories, the classic tale of Chicken Little will delight and entertain.The sky is falling! Chicken Little’s comic misadventures are a favorite with toddlers, who always know better than the silly chick. This fresh retelling of the classic tale features bright, humorous illustrations. The sky is falling! Chicken Little’s comic misadventures are a favorite with toddlers, who always know better than the silly chick. This fresh retelling of the classic tale features bright, humorous illustrations.
24 pages, Board Book
First published February 28, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
April 13, 2014
This is a different version of the classic tale of Chicken Little. An acorn falls out of the tree and hits her on the tail leading her to believe that the sky is falling. She tells some of the same classic character, Henny Penny, but there is a large list of new characters that I don’t remember from when I was younger. Each new character joins the parade to tell the King the news of the sky falling. It ends with the king pulling out the acorn from Chicken Little’s tail, and everyone laughs and goes back home.
Characteristics to Support Genre: This classic fable has been retold for generations. Most of the characters have rhyming names and are anthropomorphized. It also teaches a moral lesson not to believe everything you hear.
Concepts Integrated: reader’s theater, sequencing, science
Other Suggestions that could be useful regarding literary content, reading level, and other ways in which the book might be integrated: K-2
Language Arts: This is a great read aloud book for students to predict the upcoming text. The repetition in the book is great for students to practice making predictions about what will happen next. Students can also sequence events in the story easily with pictures and simple text. Another activity that would be fun is to have students participate in reader’s theater. Students could practice reading the parts of the characters and perform the story to their friends.
Science: This is a great tie in for students to understand not to believe everything they hear. A lesson can be introduced to students about something that they’ve heard before – heavier objects sink faster, bigger objects fall faster, metals stick to magnets. This would be a great exploratory activity for students and tie in with the lesson of the book.
Characteristics to Support Genre: This classic fable has been retold for generations. Most of the characters have rhyming names and are anthropomorphized. It also teaches a moral lesson not to believe everything you hear.
Concepts Integrated: reader’s theater, sequencing, science
Other Suggestions that could be useful regarding literary content, reading level, and other ways in which the book might be integrated: K-2
Language Arts: This is a great read aloud book for students to predict the upcoming text. The repetition in the book is great for students to practice making predictions about what will happen next. Students can also sequence events in the story easily with pictures and simple text. Another activity that would be fun is to have students participate in reader’s theater. Students could practice reading the parts of the characters and perform the story to their friends.
Science: This is a great tie in for students to understand not to believe everything they hear. A lesson can be introduced to students about something that they’ve heard before – heavier objects sink faster, bigger objects fall faster, metals stick to magnets. This would be a great exploratory activity for students and tie in with the lesson of the book.
January 19, 2023
Chicken little is one of my all-time favorite books to read. I feel like it’s a very silly story to read with your kids. You can bring a lot of energy and charisma while reading this book to your classroom. It has a lot of tongue twisters, but it’s a very energetic, fun book. Although this story does not have a deep message to it, it is a very fun book to read to your classroom as a treat or even just to read it for fun. Kids find these types of books very funny especially when a silly chicken thinks that the sky is falling!
July 26, 2017
Categories/Genres for this class fulfilled by this book: Traditional, Picturebook
Copyright Date: 1998
Estimate of age level of interest:PreK-3rd Grade
Estimate of reading level:2nd-3rd Grade
Brief description: One day, as Chicken Little was scratching in the forest, something fell on her tail. “The sky is falling!” Or is it?
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: Traditional literature comes from the oral tradition of storytelling and are most often labeled ‘folklore’. Chicken Little falls into the subcategory of cumulative tales where the story builds on itself, the story less important than the increasing repetition of text and details. From the very beginning, when we are introduced to Chicken Little and something falls on her tail, she exclaims “Oh, the sky is falling! I must run and tell the King!” From there we head on a zany journey, where each animal Chicken Little meets is filled in on the impossible actions and join the journey to tell the King. The pictures and text in the book work well together, full two page illustrations span most of the book, and as more animals join the journey, the background fades away to allow all the animals room in the story.
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: Preschoolers will enjoy the absurdity of the sky falling, and will call out to Chicken Little the entire time the story is being read. Kindergartners will enjoy the rhyming names of the animals and the repetition and predictability of the story. Second and third graders can use this in a story study of animals in folklore and compare and contrast how the animals are used in each story.
Awards if any:N/A
Reviews: Horn Book Guide (September, 1998)
School Library Journal (June 1998)
Copyright Date: 1998
Estimate of age level of interest:PreK-3rd Grade
Estimate of reading level:2nd-3rd Grade
Brief description: One day, as Chicken Little was scratching in the forest, something fell on her tail. “The sky is falling!” Or is it?
Identify at least 2 characteristics of this genre and subgenre and discuss how they appear in your book: Traditional literature comes from the oral tradition of storytelling and are most often labeled ‘folklore’. Chicken Little falls into the subcategory of cumulative tales where the story builds on itself, the story less important than the increasing repetition of text and details. From the very beginning, when we are introduced to Chicken Little and something falls on her tail, she exclaims “Oh, the sky is falling! I must run and tell the King!” From there we head on a zany journey, where each animal Chicken Little meets is filled in on the impossible actions and join the journey to tell the King. The pictures and text in the book work well together, full two page illustrations span most of the book, and as more animals join the journey, the background fades away to allow all the animals room in the story.
In what ways and how well does the book as a whole serve its intended audience?: Preschoolers will enjoy the absurdity of the sky falling, and will call out to Chicken Little the entire time the story is being read. Kindergartners will enjoy the rhyming names of the animals and the repetition and predictability of the story. Second and third graders can use this in a story study of animals in folklore and compare and contrast how the animals are used in each story.
Awards if any:N/A
Reviews: Horn Book Guide (September, 1998)
School Library Journal (June 1998)
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September 20, 2019Traditional Literature
This is a classic story of chicken little. Chicken little thinks the sky is falling and while he is on his way to tell the king, he meets a chicken, a hen, a duck, and a goose who all go with him to tell the king. When he tells the king the sky is falling, the king reaches in his feathers to find an acorn. The sky was not falling, an acorn just fell from a tree and landed on him.
This is a classic story of chicken little. Chicken little thinks the sky is falling and while he is on his way to tell the king, he meets a chicken, a hen, a duck, and a goose who all go with him to tell the king. When he tells the king the sky is falling, the king reaches in his feathers to find an acorn. The sky was not falling, an acorn just fell from a tree and landed on him.
June 18, 2019
Laura Rader re-imagines the classic tale of Chicken Little. This version was published in 1998. The illustrations are basic, colorful, and at times greatly support the story. In particular, most of the way through the story when the goose decides to join the party, the illustration covers the two pages with bright watercolors that capture the characters' fear and excitement of the moment.
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September 24, 2019In this book a chicken gets hit with someone on its tail and believes the sky is falling. On its way to tell the king it also tells a few other animals so they go with. When they get to the king, the king looks in the chicken's tail and pulls out an acorn and tells Chicken Little that it was an acorn that hit him in the tail, not the sky.
May 17, 2020
Genre: Children's Picture Book - Fairy Tale
Ages: PreK-2nd
This rendition of Chicken Little is made for little kids. The rhyming of the names (Henny Penny and Lucky Ducky), the repetition of the lines, and the simplicity lends itself to a younger audience. It is basic, easy, and fun. The illustrations are simple as well and it has an adorable happy ending.
Ages: PreK-2nd
This rendition of Chicken Little is made for little kids. The rhyming of the names (Henny Penny and Lucky Ducky), the repetition of the lines, and the simplicity lends itself to a younger audience. It is basic, easy, and fun. The illustrations are simple as well and it has an adorable happy ending.
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October 15, 2019This story follows Chicken Little and his outcry of the sky is falling after getting hit on by an acorn. He goes to tell the king the sky is following while gaining a few other travelers along the way, and in the end, you find out that it was an acorn and the sky is not falling.
October 11, 2018
How can you not love Chicken Little? It's a cute story. The students will love reading this story.
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October 12, 2019This is the online version that we read: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBiUZ...
Chicken Little, Illustrated by Jennifer Eichelberger, Read by Little Cozy Nook
Chicken Little, Illustrated by Jennifer Eichelberger, Read by Little Cozy Nook
September 5, 2020
Classic tale of chicken little.
February 6, 2021
One benefit to having friends with kids is listening to bedtime stories. I had never heard this story before but it was cute. Unfortunately, it took four books to get the kids to go to bed 🤣.
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October 13, 2015Title: Chicken Little
Author and Illustrator: Laura Rader
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Overreaction, Perception, Our problems are so much smaller compared to the whole world around us, Repetition
Opening line/sentence: One day when Chicken Little was scratching in the leaves, an acorn fell out of a tree and hit her on the tail.
Brief Book Summary: Chicken little was hit by a falling acorn and believed the sky was falling. He was stopped along the way by other birds asking where he was going and he told them he was going to tell the king. So Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, and Goosey Loosey all went to tell the king but when Chicken Little told the king he pulled out an acorn from Chicken Little’s tail.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Hornbook) 22 pp. ISBN 0-694-01034-0
(5) PS Harper Growing Tree series. In this gentle but bland version of the classic story, the character of Foxy Loxy is replaced by a king, who at the end kindly points out the acorn in Chicken Little's tail. Awkward, dated-looking illustrations add little appeal to the book, which features a toddler-friendly format and heavy paper.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: DeAnn Tabuchi (School Library Journal)
PreS-KIn this version of the familiar tale, some elements are the same-Chicken Little is hit by an acorn and believes the sky to be falling. She runs off to tell the king and encounters a succession of creatures along the way, all of which join in her quest. However, in this retelling, the trickster fox is not present and the group does successfully reach the king to warn him. The wise king discovers the truth among Chicken Little's tail feathers, and they all enjoy a good laugh. While this simplified retelling might appeal to younger readers, the story lacks the tension usually provided by the presence of the fox. The simple text and repetitive refrain will read aloud well. However, although colorful and bold, the watercolor cartoons are a bit amateurish and busy. Sally Hobson's Chicken Little (S & S, 1994) and Paul Galdone's Henny Penny (Houghton, 1979) are better choices.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both these recommendations because this retelling of the story was pretty bland even though I thought the pictures are still attractive to early readers. It’s a simple story that lacks a main antagonist creating the lack of tension the second review talks about. This book is definitely made more appealing to PreK readers more than school aged learners.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The cute plot that this story has would be laughter to many early readers. The character pictured with soft curves present the story in a calm and relaxed tone that makes it very appealing. I also think the use of repetition makes the reading much easier with creative names for each of the characters.
Consideration of Instructional Application: The best way I would love to use this book is too share all the different forms of chicken little and have chicks as class pets. I know when I was in school learning about the different species and narrowing the focus onto our animals in the classroom made learning about them more exciting. Also being able to use the example of the acorn to keep my students from becoming upset or depressed by explaining to them that there are much bigger issues going on in the world and ours are so minimal compared to them. It doesn’t mean our problems or issues should go unnoticed but rather tell a higher authority about it before making it a bigger issue in the classroom community. Also taking turns acting out this book would be enjoyable for all.
Author and Illustrator: Laura Rader
Genre: Fable
Theme(s): Overreaction, Perception, Our problems are so much smaller compared to the whole world around us, Repetition
Opening line/sentence: One day when Chicken Little was scratching in the leaves, an acorn fell out of a tree and hit her on the tail.
Brief Book Summary: Chicken little was hit by a falling acorn and believed the sky was falling. He was stopped along the way by other birds asking where he was going and he told them he was going to tell the king. So Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, and Goosey Loosey all went to tell the king but when Chicken Little told the king he pulled out an acorn from Chicken Little’s tail.
Professional Recommendation/Review #1: (Hornbook) 22 pp. ISBN 0-694-01034-0
(5) PS Harper Growing Tree series. In this gentle but bland version of the classic story, the character of Foxy Loxy is replaced by a king, who at the end kindly points out the acorn in Chicken Little's tail. Awkward, dated-looking illustrations add little appeal to the book, which features a toddler-friendly format and heavy paper.
Professional Recommendation/Review #2: DeAnn Tabuchi (School Library Journal)
PreS-KIn this version of the familiar tale, some elements are the same-Chicken Little is hit by an acorn and believes the sky to be falling. She runs off to tell the king and encounters a succession of creatures along the way, all of which join in her quest. However, in this retelling, the trickster fox is not present and the group does successfully reach the king to warn him. The wise king discovers the truth among Chicken Little's tail feathers, and they all enjoy a good laugh. While this simplified retelling might appeal to younger readers, the story lacks the tension usually provided by the presence of the fox. The simple text and repetitive refrain will read aloud well. However, although colorful and bold, the watercolor cartoons are a bit amateurish and busy. Sally Hobson's Chicken Little (S & S, 1994) and Paul Galdone's Henny Penny (Houghton, 1979) are better choices.
Response to Two Professional Reviews: I agree with both these recommendations because this retelling of the story was pretty bland even though I thought the pictures are still attractive to early readers. It’s a simple story that lacks a main antagonist creating the lack of tension the second review talks about. This book is definitely made more appealing to PreK readers more than school aged learners.
Evaluation of Literary Elements: The cute plot that this story has would be laughter to many early readers. The character pictured with soft curves present the story in a calm and relaxed tone that makes it very appealing. I also think the use of repetition makes the reading much easier with creative names for each of the characters.
Consideration of Instructional Application: The best way I would love to use this book is too share all the different forms of chicken little and have chicks as class pets. I know when I was in school learning about the different species and narrowing the focus onto our animals in the classroom made learning about them more exciting. Also being able to use the example of the acorn to keep my students from becoming upset or depressed by explaining to them that there are much bigger issues going on in the world and ours are so minimal compared to them. It doesn’t mean our problems or issues should go unnoticed but rather tell a higher authority about it before making it a bigger issue in the classroom community. Also taking turns acting out this book would be enjoyable for all.
February 23, 2015
This is the story of a little chicken called Chicken Little. When an acorn falls onto her tail she is convinced that the sky was falling. The little chicken feels it is her duty to run and tell the king that the sky is falling immediately. She proceeds to make her way to the king, but is stopped along the way by a few of her friends. She proceeds to tell them what has happened and ends up with an entourage of friends to go with her and tell the king of the bad news. When the group finally meets at the kings palace she tells him of the sky falling and when the King heard this he was curious but then reached down and found the acorn and when he told her that the sky was not falling they all laughed.
This books is a newer version of the story chicken little that is based off of the movie, and is slightly different than the original story. I think that this story is perfect for young kids to read, with the art and the fun rhymes it makes for a very entertaining book. Throughout the story, the reader is witnessing what can be interpreted as a group of little kids rushing to tell an older person the horrible news they just learned. I feel as though any kid reading this story can relate to the animals because young kids have a tendency to feel like they have to report back everything they learn to their parents or older figures. Everything is the end of the world when you're little and this book depicts that perfectly while still keeping it light and fun to read.
This books is a newer version of the story chicken little that is based off of the movie, and is slightly different than the original story. I think that this story is perfect for young kids to read, with the art and the fun rhymes it makes for a very entertaining book. Throughout the story, the reader is witnessing what can be interpreted as a group of little kids rushing to tell an older person the horrible news they just learned. I feel as though any kid reading this story can relate to the animals because young kids have a tendency to feel like they have to report back everything they learn to their parents or older figures. Everything is the end of the world when you're little and this book depicts that perfectly while still keeping it light and fun to read.
February 10, 2011
This story starts off by chicken little scratching in the leaves, suddenly an acorn fell out and hit her on the tail. On the way to tell the king, chicken litte brings along the other animals and tell them the sky is falling. The king showed chicken little and her friends that an acorn had fell in her feathers. This book was full of laughter and the students would enjoy it.
July 25, 2012
This story also makes me laugh how they were all convinced that the sky was falling but it was just an apple. Great repetition for young children to join in and also great story line for children to follow.
Learning experience: I would have the children place the sequence of animals in the story from beginning to end.
Learning experience: I would have the children place the sequence of animals in the story from beginning to end.
April 12, 2015
Natalie read this to me while I made dinner tonight. I was impressed with how many words she has picked up on sight. The repetitive text helped her be able to read a book this long. Had never realized before today that potentially all the birds are female and they go to the king to solve their problem.
July 9, 2012
Review
This book is very cute. It will keep the attention of children with all the characters. Children can join in with the saying "the sky is falling"
Learning Experience
You can make puppets of the characters of the book and retell the story with the children's help.
This book is very cute. It will keep the attention of children with all the characters. Children can join in with the saying "the sky is falling"
Learning Experience
You can make puppets of the characters of the book and retell the story with the children's help.
October 1, 2013
This is a variation on a popular story. It can be used in sequencing lessons and can be used to teach the kids that we shouldn't always believe everything we hear. The ending left a bit to be desired.
January 27, 2014
I thought that this was a cute book and I enjoyed how at the end everyone just laughed and was still nice to little Chicken Little. But I liked the pictures as well, they were cute and this would be a perfect book for little children.
February 1, 2014
This book reminded me of the moive Chicken Little. I thought the drawings were great and the way the story was told was supper funny with the pictures. My favorite part of the movie was when they were with the king at the end of the book and the king tells them what really hit there head.
January 15, 2015
Chicken Little is a classic story that has been retold in many different versions, but i really enjoy the original version of this story. This story reminds me of my grandmother, she used to read this story to me all the time. This is a great story for young children.
August 19, 2016
When you you teach little children, you are reminded of your childhood. I read this to the kids today while waiting for thier swim class to begin, and they loved it (apparently they never heard of Chicken Little, but then again they're only 4-so much to discover!)
September 3, 2008
Very fun book, kids love it!
March 17, 2011
The typical story of chicken little, but nonetheless, a fun book to read with students! Ideal for kindergarten through first grade.
May 7, 2011
Love the illustrations!
April 22, 2012
This is a classic tale. It kept the attention of my kindergarten class with Henny Penny and all the characters and the famous saying "The sky is falling".
April 21, 2016
Classic, simple, so funny to first time readers.
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April 22, 2016This is a great traditional literature book for children. This book is especially good for children who love silly stories.
November 18, 2023
Where is Foxy Loxy???
November - Maddie loves reading different versions of this and comparing it to the French play she did last year.
November - Maddie loves reading different versions of this and comparing it to the French play she did last year.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews