Big Chickens Fly the Coop

by Leslie Helakoski, Henry Cole (Illustrator)

The four big chickens who were afraid of everything in their wellreceived debut, Big Chickens , are now feeling all cooped up, so they set off to find the farmhouse. But where, the hapless hens wonder, is it? First they find a doghouse (loud barking!); then they run into a tractor ( ewww , dirty!); and then they stomp into the barn (wild horses!). Who knew the farmhouse was right under their beaks the whole time? Sidesplitting silliness abounds in this second riotously funny read-aloud by Leslie Helakoski, once again illustrated with Henry Cole?s boisterous art.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Animals, Fiction, Storytime, Adventure

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 24, 2008

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

No group of people on earth enjoy a sequel as much as kids. Sometimes it seems like if you slap a “2″ at the end of a book or movie, youngsters take that to mean “times 2″. Twice as cool, twice as funny, twice as good. Kids go into a part deux boldly: familiar with the content and hopeful for the best. Adults, on the other hand, can be fearful of sequels, afraid that it may not live up to the original. I’m guilty of this as well. Heck, I’ve even been scared to listen to side B of an album, thinking that it was going to be a letdown. A sad thing indeed. So when I saw that there was a new “Big Chickens” book hitting the shelves, I tried to prepare myself like a kid, and not as an adult. The result? Good feelings and a discovery that I should look on the bright side more often.

Similar to it’s predecessor, “Big Chickens Fly the Coop” is about overcoming fears. Last time out, the chickens were forced into their situation by a wolf who scared them out of their coop. This time, perhaps feeling a bit more brave, the chickens choose to go out on a limb. They want to see the farmhouse. Problem is, they don’t exactly know what the farmhouse looks like. They know it has a roof, they know it has a chimney, they know it has windows, but that’s about it. Each time out, they confuse the farmhouse with something else and end up getting scared back to the coop. The chickens are determined to best their anxiety, however, and head out for one last attempt at the promised land.

Henry Cole’s vivid illustrations fit well with the comedic tone, completing the requirements for a solid read-aloud. Rumor has it that there’s a third “Big Chickens” on the way. I’ll be looking forward to it, just like my students.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this book to read with one of my students today. It's a cute little book about some chickens who decide to leave the safety of their coop to venture to the farmhouse. They encounter some obstacles along the way: some dogs, a tractor, and some horses. Ultimately, though, they reach their goal and discover that it was closer than they thought.

The text is good, especially with with the rhyming. The illustrations are the best part. I particularly love some of the chickens' facial expressions.

I highly recommend this book as a read-aloud, a book for parents to share with their children, or a book for beginning readers.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four hens want to venture over to the farmhouse ... though they should stay in the coop. But how else will they see the farmhouse, taste the bugs there and see the view? They soon discover, however, that there are so many obstacles: dogs, tractors, the barn. Each time they run back to the safety of the coop. Finally, through determination and courage, they make it to the farmhouse. And funny thing is, after that their coop seems so much closer to the farmhouse then it did before.

Cute illustrations and fun word choice. Love the message.

[Ashley Adkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

My boys, ages 8 and 9, read this book and enjoyed it. Again, the play on the words "big chickens" is always a lot of fun. And again, this book is probably for children younger than mine. The art is fun and the story is entertaining.

[Alysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super cute kids book. My kids keep bringing it back to me over and over again. It's a big hit here!

[Joy Reinbold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goofy and rhyme-y with a cute and fun story. This is going on my list of books to read to my own little one.

[Kristen Thorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

137/365

[Maggie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Feels too forced - maybe just loved Big Chickens too much.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for language development and rhyme

[Sharon Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love!!

My kids love this book, especially when you use different voices!!! I approve this book, you won't be disappointed, I promise!

[Diana Salazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ridiculous things happen to these poor chickens when all they wanted to do was simply see the farmhouse!

[Kylee Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four big chickens want to leave the coop to explore the farmhouse. Once they leave, they discover things that they had never known before. The fist time they left, they discovered big slobbery dogs, which lead them back to their coop. Next they were encountered by a crazy tractor! They immediately went back to their coop. The third time they flew the coop, the encountered wild, bucking horses!They immediately went back to their coop. They decided to take one last chance which finally lead them to the farmhouse, only to discover that their coop had been moved... right next to the farmhouse!

This book has great illustrations that students can look at. As a teacher, I would use this to teach students about the importance of illustrations to add to your story. These illustrations do great things for this story and directly mirror the text. Students can use this book to help them when decided what they should do for their own illustrations for their own writing.

[Luann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read the first Big Chicken book, but I'm thinking I should. This is fun and I love the illustrations of the chickens - especially the expressions on their faces - as they have all sorts of adventures (involving a dog, a tractor, and horses) on their quest to find the farmhouse. Pair this one with Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken for a different take on chickens and adventures.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

A flock of nervous chickens are trying to explore the barnyard beyond their hen-house. Their ultimate destination is to see the view from the farmhouse. After many failed attempts to get there, they finally succeed only to find it wasn't as exciting as they had hoped. Not necessarily an amazing story, but the illustrations were great! Don't get me wrong, the story is fun, especially to read-aloud.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about four chickens that are too afraid to go outside of their coop, so they are unfamiliar with where the farmhouse is located. After confusing the farmhouse for the doghouse and stables, they finally reach their destination. This book shares the lesson that you should not be afraid of going after what you want. Your fears should not prevent you from following your dreams.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four big chickens use their own sense of direction and ingenuity to get to the farmhouse. Along the way they must avoid the dogs, the tractor, and the horse. When they finally get there the round-about way, they realize the farmhouse is actually right next door to their own coop. Lively language set in a bouncy rhythm.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids enjoyed this book about chickens trying to leave their coop to visit the farm house. My kids love their own chickens, and so are drawn to books about chickens. This is a funny story to them, trying to imagine chickens behaving in this way.
As for myself, the illustrations weren't my favorite and the story was ok. It was a fun one-time read.

[Aberdeen Children's · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute picute book. The illustrations and colors are wonderfully exclamatory!! The elements of fear and surprise are both present when four chickens discover life on the farm. This book would be appropriate for pr-K through gr. 2.

[Vicki Halphide · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious read-a-loud book for three and four-year olds. This is one book I don't tire of reading time and time and time again. The alliteration, rhyming and repetition make this such a fun, unique book.

[Edna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny story about four curious older chickens whose determined curiosity drive them to venture out of their comfortable coop in search of the farmhouse where they think wonderful things are kept.

[Angela Moorer]

The chickens in this tale bring new meaning to the phrase "there's no place like home". The chickens want to fly the coop and see the world outside of what they are exposed to daily. This can be used to practice predicting with students as well as sequence.

[Dawn VanLerberghe · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this so e time ago, but my son brought it up again today. I am going to have to get it again. He thought it was funny and giggled through the whole thing. There was a time that the only books he wanted to hear were the ones that took place on a farm.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

These chickens are BIG chickens when it comes to exploring their world. The repetitive phrase "We should've stayed home" will engage school age listeners to this funny book. Beautiful illustrations!

[Amber Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for sensory words and adjectives! A tale of four chickens seeking an adventure to the farm house encounter some obstacles on the way. This book is great for younger elementary,it is definitely comical which is sure to get children laughing!

[Jessica Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to use in a literacy class. Could meet many reading and writing standards. Lots of words in some parts that are a little hard so practice this many times if planning to use for a read aloud.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Big Chicken adventure as they want to explore the farmhouse. There are various scary challenges along the way. They plan their mission and succeed. They have a great old time, but are also happy to go back to their coopl

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining story of four chickens who accidentally hitch a ride into town in the back of the farmer's truck. I love all the adjectives used to describe the four chicken's experiences.

Really fun illustrations.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Repition of phrases makes a good choice for storytime, plus illustrations are funny.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a tad too long for preschoolers to use during storytime, but a good rhyming book for K-2 with new vocabulary.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very funny, but I liked the first book, Big Chickens better.