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All by Myself!
When five hens leave the coop to go pecking for grain, five little chicks are left all by themselves for the day. At first the chicks — Ivan, Lily, Leonard, Shirley, and narrator Anthony — cry. Then, they get what if their moms never come home? What if a fox finds them? The chicks must work together to brave the day without their mothers.
When the hens return to the coop with delicious grain at lunchtime, all but one of the chicks — Anthony — fall upon the food ravenously. Bolstered by his triumphant day at home alone, Anthony pauses to declare that he is ready to eat all by himself for the first time.
A beloved book in its original French, All By Myself! is a plucky tale about cooperation and independence. Told in part through mixed media illustrations and energetic text, this picture book will inspire and entertain young readers as they approach their own hallmarks of growing up.
When the hens return to the coop with delicious grain at lunchtime, all but one of the chicks — Anthony — fall upon the food ravenously. Bolstered by his triumphant day at home alone, Anthony pauses to declare that he is ready to eat all by himself for the first time.
A beloved book in its original French, All By Myself! is a plucky tale about cooperation and independence. Told in part through mixed media illustrations and energetic text, this picture book will inspire and entertain young readers as they approach their own hallmarks of growing up.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
11 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
December 24, 2019
Something was definitely lost in translation. I thought, at first, that this was going to be a book about independence. But it's so scattered in its message that I'm not really sure what it's about.
The mother hens go out to get grain, and their five chicks stay behind and fret. They worry that their mothers won't come back. They worry about foxes. They talk about what they'd do if a fox came to the henhouse. Then the hens return with grain and the chicks all eat. Anthony's mother asks if he wants some help eating, and he refuses, saying he wants to do it all by himself.
The pictures are sort of cute, but I'm struggling with the story. It just doesn't seem very focused. It's also a bit confusing in the beginning, as it's told in the first person by Anthony. But he seems to be privy to the other chicks' private thoughts; he knows what they're thinking and worrying about. (I wonder if this is something that happened during translation. Whatever the case, it doesn't quite work in English.)
I'm afraid this was a miss for me. The story doesn't seem to know what it wants to be about... so I'm not sure how to interpret it.
The mother hens go out to get grain, and their five chicks stay behind and fret. They worry that their mothers won't come back. They worry about foxes. They talk about what they'd do if a fox came to the henhouse. Then the hens return with grain and the chicks all eat. Anthony's mother asks if he wants some help eating, and he refuses, saying he wants to do it all by himself.
The pictures are sort of cute, but I'm struggling with the story. It just doesn't seem very focused. It's also a bit confusing in the beginning, as it's told in the first person by Anthony. But he seems to be privy to the other chicks' private thoughts; he knows what they're thinking and worrying about. (I wonder if this is something that happened during translation. Whatever the case, it doesn't quite work in English.)
I'm afraid this was a miss for me. The story doesn't seem to know what it wants to be about... so I'm not sure how to interpret it.
December 7, 2020
A pointless story paired with ugly artwork.
Sorry - I can't recommend this one at all.
Sorry - I can't recommend this one at all.
May 2, 2018
Five little chicks are left alone when their mothers go out looking for food. Cute book.
January 10, 2013
I grabbed this in a rush at the library, since "do it myself" seems to be a theme with both kids right now. This book was just so-so; it was translated from french and I get the sense something was lost in that process. 5 hens leave their babies in the coop while they go out to get food. The babies are a bit freaked about being alone. They imagine what might happen while they are alone and how they would handle said scenarios. Moms come back with food and the youngest of them decides he can eat by himself, like his other chick friends. I would say the best things about this story is the illustrations.
March 13, 2012
Too much like Owl Babies and you can't top that book in my opinion.
August 18, 2012
Very reminiscent of Owl Babies and not nearly as good. Art is cute though.
November 3, 2013
I like the multimedia illustrations, but the story is just ok.
April 20, 2020
Genre: Picture Book/ Easy-to-Read
Audience: Ages 1-4
A group of small chicks are very scared whenever their mother hens have to go away to get some seed, but they are very relieved whenever they return.
1. This book is an easy-to-read book because it would be easy for a new reader to read. It uses repetitive vocabulary with small sentence structures.
2. This book uses interesting shapes and lines to illustrate the chickens as well as the things that are happening in the background. It also uses a consistent color palate.
3. I would use this book to talk about fear with small children. I would use this in a group setting and have a conversation about fear.
Audience: Ages 1-4
A group of small chicks are very scared whenever their mother hens have to go away to get some seed, but they are very relieved whenever they return.
1. This book is an easy-to-read book because it would be easy for a new reader to read. It uses repetitive vocabulary with small sentence structures.
2. This book uses interesting shapes and lines to illustrate the chickens as well as the things that are happening in the background. It also uses a consistent color palate.
3. I would use this book to talk about fear with small children. I would use this in a group setting and have a conversation about fear.
November 29, 2017
What a delightful little story for children of all ages. Whether children are familiar with chickens or not they will enjoy the antics of these little chickens. Children will find similarities in the chicks antics as they themselves would do or feel when their parents leave them.
This is certainly one which will become a favorite of all who read it.
This is certainly one which will become a favorite of all who read it.
January 10, 2019
Cute enough. Probably best suited to the toddler set.
May 8, 2012
A group of chicks are left on their own for the first time. Whatever are they going to do? They are scared and worried. Are their mommas going to come back? Will they have to survive on their own? Not to worry momma returns in this fun little book all about being scared and worried and how to deal with those feelings. The chicks are wonderful; each has its own little personality and I love how they are drawn. Very unique feel to this book.
July 25, 2014
I really liked the illustrations. I loved how the little chicks looked like painted rocks.
The story was a little over told in my opinion. I like Owl Babies by Martin Waddell's rendition of this story better but I prefer the illustrations in All by Myself!, so it's a toss up.
I would read this at a story time for chickens, or fear, or imagination.
The story was a little over told in my opinion. I like Owl Babies by Martin Waddell's rendition of this story better but I prefer the illustrations in All by Myself!, so it's a toss up.
I would read this at a story time for chickens, or fear, or imagination.
April 16, 2012
Intersting combination of photographs, print, and drawings brings this story about worrying chicks to life. This might be a nice book for parents to address the inevitable worrying, what-if's that trouble youngsters since it offers the worrying and problem solving.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2012
Although it can be compared to Owl Babies, All by Myself is different. It uses creative mixed-media and humorous text describing the coping strategies of the five little chicks and their energetic personalities.
April 4, 2013
Odd little book, I like the multi media choices in the illustrations but am confused by the nilla wafer or egg yolk shape on the chick tummies. They have red cloths tied around their middles at the end when they are eating - I thought they were aprons but the mama calls it a bib.
March 25, 2012
Uncomfortably too close to Owl Babies.
September 8, 2016
Cute picture book about some nervous chicks who's mommy has stepped out of an unspecified amount of time.
May 9, 2012
Too cute! And very realistic child's behavior...
May 9, 2012
I can't help but love that all of the chicks look like eggs with little yolks in their bellies.
August 29, 2012
One of those stars is just for the art, which is adorable.
September 20, 2012
Multimedia Collage with vector illustration added
Originally in French
Originally in French
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May 14, 2017A precocious chick's adventure teaches him about survival and maturing. –Monty K.-
January 2, 2016
Cute interaction with the chicks. Simple story.
January 21, 2016
Five little chickens are left at home alone.
December 27, 2013
I LOVED the story, I LOVED the illustrations! Such a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews