One Little Chicken

by David Elliot, Ethan Long (Illustrator)

One by one, ten little chickens come together to shake, shimmy, samba, and dance the night away in an entertaining counting book with bright artwork and lively verse. 10,000 first printing.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Counting, Mathematics, Number, Storytime, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2007

About the author

David Elliot is an award-winning illustrator and author who has achieved international success. After working as a zookeeper (Edinburgh Zoo), dishwasher (the Antarctic), interior designer and art teacher, in 1998 he became a full-time illustrator. David is a graduate of the Christchurch College of Education, and earned a Fine Arts Diploma from the University of Canterbury.

Reviews

[Melissa Chung · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've decided to do a spotlight on David Elliot because I loved his YA poetry re-tellings so much. What did I think about this picture book? It's silly and fun. Each page is brightly colored by illustrator Ethan Long. This book is all about dancing chickens. My favorite rhyme of the book was for numbers 6 and 7. "Six chickens try something more refined (they are waltzing), but seven chickens get up and bump and grind." Never rhymed refined and grind. This is a counting book, but the words could be a little hard for very small children.

On to the next one....

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreaders, I have such a fondness for picture books by David Elliot. This one does not disappoint.

* Partly this is a counting book.

* But partly this is a book about dancing.

Hey, this is the perfect book for giving you exercise, as parents or caregivers or teachers. Every time you read a two-page spread, it's time to dance some more.

How I miss the "Dance Party" fun I used to have with my toddler and, later, preschooler.

FIVE STARS to David Elliot for concepts and simple-but-wonderful words; plus big enthusiasm for Ethan Long's very fetching chicken dance pix.

[Marina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice counting of the chickens in the story. Interactive opportunity at the end.

[Laura McLoughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty meh. Featured in a dance themed story time I attended with my 2 year old!

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A counting book featuring chickens who dance (ballet, bunny hop, hula, Latin, jitterbug, etc.)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dancing chickens…could anything be funnier?! And counting!

[Kiyoko]

Counting, yes. Counting fun. Rhyming words, yes. Rhyming fun. But one more check mark in the column of JARRING POETRY METER in children's books. Ugggh.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Little Chicken: A Counting Book by David Elliott, illustrated by Ethan Long features counting and dancing chickens.

Long's quirky, enthusiastic chickens are hilarious, as they dance the night away. Dances shown include the bunny hop, swing, ballet, hula, ballroom, bump and grind, cha cha, shimmy and shake, bugaloo, and jive and jitterbug. Favorite images include bunny hop, swing, bump and grind, and last image.

The font is large and bold, and the pictures are big enough to use this for a storytime. The illustrations outshine the text, but the pictures should entertain the kids. You could play some of the music for some freestyle movement. 3.5 star rating.

For ages 4 to 7, animals, movement, dance, music, rhymes, chicken, and fans of David Elliott and Ethan Long.

[Kelsi Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This counting picture was really fun, lots of colors and animals dancing. The children word love to read this book. The words are simple enough for the students to read and to count along. I would say that this book would be good for student’s k-3. Also good for older students who are struggling with reading and counting. The dancing in the store will get the students excited to keep reading the book. A teacher can use this book to motivate the students to prepare for their lesson, also to wrap up a counting lesson. I would definitely use this book in my classroom.

[Susan Menk]

Tags: counting, chickens, silly, shake, samba, hula, cha-cha, rhymes

A counting book that goes up to 10 in which chickens do all kinds of crazy dancing and singing. Chickens are given human characteristics. Backgrounds are all monochromatic and steer the reader to the next page.


"One Little Chicken: A Counting Book" by David Elliott, illustrated by Ethan Long, Holiday House: New York, NY, 2007.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chickens, dancing and counting. A great concept, especially for a general preschool storytime audience. The story flows very well with entertaining numbers and sentences. The illustrations are very nice with good character drawings which were attractive towards my visually detailed observant young boys and girls.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be a chicken, get up and dance! Count and dance along as the chickens on the farm dance in all kinds of fun ways and styles.

Great book to teach not only counting, but different dance styles.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a book about dance and feeling the beat, this is somewhat disappointing. The rhymes are jerky and at times awkward. Funny pictures, though...

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

counting book that doubles as fodder for music/movement class. lively chickens.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great dancing and counting book!

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used for WTBI Movement.

[Kathrine Rogers]

Counting Week

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun words and hysterical illustrations!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love dancing chickens.

[Prplpckl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book to read and exaggerate with motion for dance lovers.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read rhyming story that has fun illustrations showing chickens doing different dances.

[Vilo · Rating 4 out of 5]

An energetic counting book--I've been standing up to read it and doing the dance moves (badly, but it keeps the kids interested!)

[K Morlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny counting book that the children seem to love.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not sure about bumping and grinding in a kids' book, but it was cute nonetheless.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Watch the little chicken's dance, while counting to ten by chance.