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Sonya's Chickens
A beautifully told story about love, loss and the circle of life from Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award winner Phoebe Wahl. Warm, nostalgic illustrations capture the earthy feel of this book about a little girl's chicken who is stolen by a fox.
Sonya raises her three chickens from the time they are tiny chicks. She feeds them, shelters them and loves them. Everywhere Sonya goes, her chicks are peeping at her heels. Under her care, the chicks grow into hens and even give Sonya a wonderful an egg! One night, Sonya hears noises coming from the chicken coop and discovers that one of her hens has disappeared. Where did the hen go? What happened to her? When Sonya discovers the answers, she learns some important truths about the interconnectedness of nature and the true joys and sorrows of caring for another creature.
Sonya raises her three chickens from the time they are tiny chicks. She feeds them, shelters them and loves them. Everywhere Sonya goes, her chicks are peeping at her heels. Under her care, the chicks grow into hens and even give Sonya a wonderful an egg! One night, Sonya hears noises coming from the chicken coop and discovers that one of her hens has disappeared. Where did the hen go? What happened to her? When Sonya discovers the answers, she learns some important truths about the interconnectedness of nature and the true joys and sorrows of caring for another creature.
32 pages, Paperback
First published August 11, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
November 3, 2023
this book was like a kick to the spleen but it was so short, sweet and well-illustrated that i can't stay mad at it
June 4, 2015
I have some mixed thoughts about this book.
I really like the nurturing aspect of this book. Sonya loved and cared for her baby chicks and they grew up and began laying eggs of their own. She cared for them like any mother cares for her children. I also liked that the family was multiracial. (You don't often see that in books that aren't about family or race.)
An incident causes Sonya to learn about the food chain. While a part of life, it makes this book more appropriate for older children, not preschoolers. I've taught kindergarten, and some of my kindergarteners would have been upset reading this book. (Not all, but a few of the sensitive ones.)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really like the nurturing aspect of this book. Sonya loved and cared for her baby chicks and they grew up and began laying eggs of their own. She cared for them like any mother cares for her children. I also liked that the family was multiracial. (You don't often see that in books that aren't about family or race.)
An incident causes Sonya to learn about the food chain. While a part of life, it makes this book more appropriate for older children, not preschoolers. I've taught kindergarten, and some of my kindergarteners would have been upset reading this book. (Not all, but a few of the sensitive ones.)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 19, 2018
Wahl provides a insight into the cycle of life and death in this gentle story of loss and acceptance. After caring for and lovingly watching her trio of chickens grow up, Sonya is angry, hurt and confused when a fox claims one of them in the night. Here, she leans of how living things are connected to one another; and that sometimes life can only continue by taking from another. What is so excellent about this story is how well Wahl conveys this message through comparing human life with animal life. In helping Sonya to look through the desperate eyes of the parent fox, she is able to see that the food chain is not as cruel as it first appears- a perspective that is helpful and clear for the reader too.
In terms of illustrations, I loved Wahl’s use of circular symbolism in connecting her story to the life-death cycle. I was particularly taken by the two separate pictures depicting the huddle of hens and the family of foxes wrapped in the rounded embrace of light and darkness. She draws a lovely parallel between these two creatures, allowing for an understanding that the laws of nature will always apply to those within it- and perhaps even an implicit acceptance of this fact. It would be really interesting to discuss Wahl's choices, particularly how Sonya is portrayed in her part of the cycle, and how the imagery reflects her inner growth too.
In terms of illustrations, I loved Wahl’s use of circular symbolism in connecting her story to the life-death cycle. I was particularly taken by the two separate pictures depicting the huddle of hens and the family of foxes wrapped in the rounded embrace of light and darkness. She draws a lovely parallel between these two creatures, allowing for an understanding that the laws of nature will always apply to those within it- and perhaps even an implicit acceptance of this fact. It would be really interesting to discuss Wahl's choices, particularly how Sonya is portrayed in her part of the cycle, and how the imagery reflects her inner growth too.
March 21, 2025
With Sonya's Chickens (published in 2015), author and illustrator Phoebe Wahl shows both textually and equally illustratively (with sweetly tender words and colourfully expressive artwork) how young Sonya takes very good care of the three baby chicks her father (who is a farmer) brings home (however, I just do have to point out that there is at least in my not at all humble opinion absolutely nothing at all wrong or inherently problematic with Sonya as a girl taking care of baby chicks and as such being nurturing as some reviews of Sonya's Chickens seem to rather vehemently insinuate, as come on, let us not read weirdly rabid feminism into Sonya's Chickens, and indeed, that Sonya's Papa is also shown by Wahl as nurturing, as being lovingly parental and certainly not just Sonya and her mother). Now with Sonya's conscientious round-the-clock care, Sonya's Chickens textually and visually demonstrates how she soon has three fine, egg-laying hens and who for her are first and foremost cherished companions who are foraging outside during the day and are inside their chicken coop at night (well, that is until a fox steals one of the hens during the night to feed his own family, and oh my gosh, I really do appreciate that Phoebe Wahl does not call the fox an "it" in Sonya's Chickens but a "him"). But while with regarding the loss (and death) of one of her three hens, Sonya is depicted and described by Wahl as being understandably and justifiably emotionally devastated, after sympathising with her, her father in Sonya's Chickens then gently but firmly (and also absolutely wonderfully) explains to his daughter that the fox is in no way something or someone nasty, evil or depraved, but just and entirely naturally an obligate predator needing to feed his own babies, and yes, just like Sonya fed and cared for her chicks (something that Sonya is also shown by Phoebe Wahl as both understanding and accepting). And while of course not getting over her grief immediately, the funeral Sonya, her parents and her little brother are shown by Wahl as holding for the lost hen in Sonya's Chickens is both tenderly lovely, provides closure for Sonya and allows her to ruminate some more on what her father has said about food chains (as she is caring for her remaining chickens and with the father reinforcing the chicken coop in which they live to prevent foxes and other predators from gaining access) and that Sonya also finds catharsis and joy welcoming at the end of Sonya's Chickens a new baby chick to the coop when one of the hens’ eggs hatches.
So textually speaking, Phoebe Wahl's writing for Sonya's Chickens is warmly immediate, and albeit some of Wahl's printed words and phrases might perhaps need a wee bit of explanation for younger listeners, the language used in Sonya's Chickens is for the most part very nicely straightforward and with just a hint of delightful lyricism. And yes, Sonya's Chickens also capably and carefully balances sensitivity towards children’s attachments to their pet animals with honesty regarding food chains (and wow, I really do love love love that Sonya's father's calmly compassionate defence of the fox and his and his cubs' needs is presented by Phoebe Wahl as being enlightening, as being educational without any annoying pedantry, sans any annoying and frustrating didacticism).
And finally about Wahl's artwork for Sonya's Chickens, bold lines of coloured pencil are softened with glowingly luminous watercolours to create richly hued visual backdrops, while collaged elements offer extra details and also add texture to the presented scenes, with rosy-cheeked, biracial Sonya being a sturdy and attractive heroine clad in bright coloured clothing and funky yellow boots (and with me also appreciating that Sonya's family being bi-racial is only visually shown and something entirely natural, neither exotic nor avant-garde), and with the animal characters of Sonya's Chickens equally visually endearing (so that even the chicken-stealing fox is totally impossible to dislike when he is depicted by Phoebe Wahl curled around his kits in their den). But yes, very sensitive children may well struggle a bit regarding the illustration of the fox with a limp hen in his mouth, but that Sonya's Chickens certainly offers a gentle (both textual and aesthetic) starting place to encourage children to consider the bigger picture when looking at predator-prey relationships, that foxes are carnivores and that chickens are in fact a natural prey animal for foxes.
So textually speaking, Phoebe Wahl's writing for Sonya's Chickens is warmly immediate, and albeit some of Wahl's printed words and phrases might perhaps need a wee bit of explanation for younger listeners, the language used in Sonya's Chickens is for the most part very nicely straightforward and with just a hint of delightful lyricism. And yes, Sonya's Chickens also capably and carefully balances sensitivity towards children’s attachments to their pet animals with honesty regarding food chains (and wow, I really do love love love that Sonya's father's calmly compassionate defence of the fox and his and his cubs' needs is presented by Phoebe Wahl as being enlightening, as being educational without any annoying pedantry, sans any annoying and frustrating didacticism).
And finally about Wahl's artwork for Sonya's Chickens, bold lines of coloured pencil are softened with glowingly luminous watercolours to create richly hued visual backdrops, while collaged elements offer extra details and also add texture to the presented scenes, with rosy-cheeked, biracial Sonya being a sturdy and attractive heroine clad in bright coloured clothing and funky yellow boots (and with me also appreciating that Sonya's family being bi-racial is only visually shown and something entirely natural, neither exotic nor avant-garde), and with the animal characters of Sonya's Chickens equally visually endearing (so that even the chicken-stealing fox is totally impossible to dislike when he is depicted by Phoebe Wahl curled around his kits in their den). But yes, very sensitive children may well struggle a bit regarding the illustration of the fox with a limp hen in his mouth, but that Sonya's Chickens certainly offers a gentle (both textual and aesthetic) starting place to encourage children to consider the bigger picture when looking at predator-prey relationships, that foxes are carnivores and that chickens are in fact a natural prey animal for foxes.
August 17, 2018
Çocuklar için istemedikleri yönde de olsa doğanın dengesini anlamlandırabilmeleri adına tatlı bir kitap. Ayrıca çizimler ve renkler harika.
March 15, 2018
Sonya loves her chickens. One night, a fox eats one of her beloved friends. In conversation with her father, she learns that it’s right to mourn her loss, but also learns about why such things happen and that foxes are predators to take care of themselves and their families.
The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and I really appreciated this gentle but unglossed lesson on the facts of life. I was worried that my preschooler would find it upsetting, but she took it all in, and while she seemed to be thinking hard about everything, she didn’t become upset. I think this would be a good one to share with kids who are starting to notice that some animals eat each other.
Notes on representation: the book depicts a multiracial family — Sonya’s mother is white, and her father is brown, as are Sonya and her toddler sibling.
The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous, and I really appreciated this gentle but unglossed lesson on the facts of life. I was worried that my preschooler would find it upsetting, but she took it all in, and while she seemed to be thinking hard about everything, she didn’t become upset. I think this would be a good one to share with kids who are starting to notice that some animals eat each other.
Notes on representation: the book depicts a multiracial family — Sonya’s mother is white, and her father is brown, as are Sonya and her toddler sibling.
February 19, 2021
Although I love the illustrations and the theme of learning about the cycle of life and the food chain, I think this book is really grim. Kids can certainly learn hard lessons from books, but this one feels like a punch in the face. Sonja takes good care of her chickens, treats them like they are her children. Then the fox enters the picture. Her father explains that the fox is just doing what foxes do to provide for their own children. Ok, fine. What got me is when the father says, "I know you feel sad, but you wouldn't want those baby foxes to go hungry, would you? ... Because you love your chicks like I love you. The fox is no different. He loves his kits too." To follow this logic then means that if a greater beast decides to eat up Sonja, the father would just have to say, "Oh, well, that's the way of nature." Only then do they reinforce the coop, which feels like too little too late and actually goes in conflict with the earlier message of "that's just nature."
August 8, 2024
1 star for Phoebe Wahl and her art, 1 star for a story about death... but I can't give it much more than that. I know it's trying to teach responsibility, but it comes off very "this is your duty as a female - BE A MOTHER" to me.
November 26, 2018
A heart-warming book, about a girl and her love for the chickens. This is first hinted when looking closely at the front cover, as it shows a picture of Sonya and her chickens, with a ring of flowers around them in the shape of a heart, displaying the love she has for them. However, one day after being attacked by a fox, one of the chickens is killed, breaking young Sonya's heart. However, Sonya's dad tells her why it happened, and how the fox needed to provide for its family just like us humans do. After that, one of the chicken eggs start to crack and a new chicken is born, that Sonya vows to protect.
Not only are the traditional illustrations lovely for the young children to look at, but they also help to tell the story so nicely, meaning that words would not necessarily be needed to understand this story. This book would be a lovely addition to any classroom no matter the Key Stage, in order to teach children about how to deal with loss, even if it is just a pet, and also the circle of life. This is because it shows that although one animal died, it was necessary for another animal to survive and feed their children.
Not only are the traditional illustrations lovely for the young children to look at, but they also help to tell the story so nicely, meaning that words would not necessarily be needed to understand this story. This book would be a lovely addition to any classroom no matter the Key Stage, in order to teach children about how to deal with loss, even if it is just a pet, and also the circle of life. This is because it shows that although one animal died, it was necessary for another animal to survive and feed their children.
September 28, 2024
i think i'm just programmed to be obsessed with anything phoebe wahl has written. her story telling and her artwork are just so kind and beautiful.
May 19, 2018
Hani bazı kitapları seversiniz tamam iyidir hoştur ama o sevdiklerinizden bir de azınlık vardır ki onların yeri kalbin tam içidir; Sonya ve tavukları öyle oldu benim için :)
May 24, 2022
کتاب ترجمه دوست عزیزم فهیمه جان شانه است که تو نمایشگاه کتاب سال هزار و چهارصد و یک رونمایی شد و افتخار اینو داشتم که اولین نسخه رو به من هدیه بده
کتاب منو خیلی یاد کودکیم انداخت، وقتی جوجه هام میمردن و من کلی براشون گریه میکردم
در واقع داستان کتاب میخواد بقا و چرخه زندگی و حیات رو به بچ�� یاد بده. اینکه اگه جوجه رو روباه میبره، برای اینه که غذا باید بخوره و برای بچه هاش غذا ببره و مراقبشون باشه همونطور که پدر خانواده مراقب بچه ها و سونیاست و بخاطر آرامششون تلاش میکنه
تا اینجا کتاب عالیه و مفهومی که میخواد به بچه یاد بده ولی به نظرم حتما کتاب باید با گفتگو خونده بشه اینکه یعنی این مفهوم و تلاش برای زندگی و آرامش، معناش اینه که هرکاری میخوایم بکنیم؟ یعنی بخاطر زندگی و بقا خودمون، میتونیم هر آسیبی به بقیه و همسایه ها بزنیم؟
به نظرم خوندن کتاب بدون گفتگو میتونه این ذهنیت رو در بچه به وجود بیاره که بخاطر آسایش و زندگی خودش، میتونه به بقیه اسیب برسونه و ظلم کنه
اینکه حد این تلاش کجاست رو کتاب ابدا توجهی نداره و این برای مفهومی که بچه از کتاب میگیره، میتونه خوب نباشه! برای همین دو ستاره کم کردم
کتاب منو خیلی یاد کودکیم انداخت، وقتی جوجه هام میمردن و من کلی براشون گریه میکردم
در واقع داستان کتاب میخواد بقا و چرخه زندگی و حیات رو به بچ�� یاد بده. اینکه اگه جوجه رو روباه میبره، برای اینه که غذا باید بخوره و برای بچه هاش غذا ببره و مراقبشون باشه همونطور که پدر خانواده مراقب بچه ها و سونیاست و بخاطر آرامششون تلاش میکنه
تا اینجا کتاب عالیه و مفهومی که میخواد به بچه یاد بده ولی به نظرم حتما کتاب باید با گفتگو خونده بشه اینکه یعنی این مفهوم و تلاش برای زندگی و آرامش، معناش اینه که هرکاری میخوایم بکنیم؟ یعنی بخاطر زندگی و بقا خودمون، میتونیم هر آسیبی به بقیه و همسایه ها بزنیم؟
به نظرم خوندن کتاب بدون گفتگو میتونه این ذهنیت رو در بچه به وجود بیاره که بخاطر آسایش و زندگی خودش، میتونه به بقیه اسیب برسونه و ظلم کنه
اینکه حد این تلاش کجاست رو کتاب ابدا توجهی نداره و این برای مفهومی که بچه از کتاب میگیره، میتونه خوب نباشه! برای همین دو ستاره کم کردم
March 14, 2025
Amazing. Amazing art. Amazing story.
May 8, 2024
Fantastic book about the circle of life for all ages! Beautiful illustrations and writing.
November 1, 2018
A lovely meditation on care, death, and cycles. Wahl is my new favorite illustrator, and her collages are vibrant and detailed in a way kids love. Beautiful.
September 6, 2019
I was not ready for the feels. RIP chicken. ;(
March 12, 2018
I won this book through a giveaway on Librarything.com http://www.librarything.com/profile/b...
I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book! A mixture of collages and paintings that tell the story beautifully. Sonya's Chickens is a wonderful story for teaching children about death and grief.
*Spoilers*
I liked that Sonya's father didn't portray the fox as an evil villain, but an animal striving to provide for their children. There is sorrow in death, but it's nice to learn that things happen for a reason.
I absolutely loved the illustrations in this book! A mixture of collages and paintings that tell the story beautifully. Sonya's Chickens is a wonderful story for teaching children about death and grief.
*Spoilers*
I liked that Sonya's father didn't portray the fox as an evil villain, but an animal striving to provide for their children. There is sorrow in death, but it's nice to learn that things happen for a reason.
August 6, 2018
Beautiful story. Sonya is raising and loves her 3 chickens, but is dismayed when one night a fox gets into the henhouse and takes one of them. Her father gently explains that the fox is raising its own kits and is doing its best to feed its family. A sweet look at nature's cycles, while still acknowledging the care and love of a pet and that mourning its loss is natural, too. The art is gorgeous, with rich colors made with collage, watercolor, and colored pencil. Bonus that the book shows a multiracial family in a farm setting with a father figure taking on the role of consoler.
June 18, 2018
A realistic and heartfelt tale of a young girl trying to raise chickens.
November 3, 2023
so sweet, a great way to teach kids about love and loss. had me crying at work
May 5, 2025
Phoebe Wahl never misses! Her illustrations alone are enough to carry a book without using words, but the story is sweet and simple.
January 9, 2019
Great story about a child learning to take care of her own chickens and learning about food chain/life cycle. Realistic story, pretty illustrations.
April 22, 2022
Sweet book. Love Phoebe Wahl's illustrations. Also read for a paper.
August 17, 2025
El dibujo bonito. Entiendo el mensaje del ciclo de la vida, pero si yo soy Sonia lo que quiero es consuelo, no pensar en los cachorros de zorro. Me extraña que una niña reaccionase así.
July 4, 2015
I saw this on *Netgalley and was excited by both the cover and the description. It sounded like it was going to be a good read.
Sonya's papa gives her three baby chickens. Sonya does her best to feed and care for all three. But one night loud noises come from the chicken coop. When Sonya goes out to investigate she finds one of her chickens missing.
Ok the illustrations in this are so rich and amazing. The deep colors and drawing styles remind me a bit of Van Gogh. It was just a wonderful piece of artwork to look through. I think all good picture books should have artwork as delicious as this.
The subject matter in this may be a bit hard for smaller children. The death of any animal in a book can be rough for children but the author does a good job of explaining why some animals kill other animals. Circle of life and what not. I like though that the author doesn't gloss over Sonya's feelings while introducing the concept. Sonya still mourns her chicken even though her papa made her understand why the fox took her chicken.
My son fell in love with the cover just like I did. He had a bit of a hard time understanding what the book was trying to say. But this is another one of those cases where my son's brain works differently from others so some concepts are harder for him. He did ask me if foxes like the taste of chicken. I explained to him that yes they do just like he likes how they taste.
5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion
**This book was read with my special needs son who is severely learning disabled. The review reflects not only my opinion but his as well
Sonya's papa gives her three baby chickens. Sonya does her best to feed and care for all three. But one night loud noises come from the chicken coop. When Sonya goes out to investigate she finds one of her chickens missing.
Ok the illustrations in this are so rich and amazing. The deep colors and drawing styles remind me a bit of Van Gogh. It was just a wonderful piece of artwork to look through. I think all good picture books should have artwork as delicious as this.
The subject matter in this may be a bit hard for smaller children. The death of any animal in a book can be rough for children but the author does a good job of explaining why some animals kill other animals. Circle of life and what not. I like though that the author doesn't gloss over Sonya's feelings while introducing the concept. Sonya still mourns her chicken even though her papa made her understand why the fox took her chicken.
My son fell in love with the cover just like I did. He had a bit of a hard time understanding what the book was trying to say. But this is another one of those cases where my son's brain works differently from others so some concepts are harder for him. He did ask me if foxes like the taste of chicken. I explained to him that yes they do just like he likes how they taste.
5 out of 5 stars.
*I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion
**This book was read with my special needs son who is severely learning disabled. The review reflects not only my opinion but his as well
June 3, 2017
This story is about Sonja who is given the responsibility of taking care of new chickens. After some time caring for them, one of them is taken by a fox so then Sonja is to learn about how animals live and how life works in nature. This book is good in terms of the lesson it teaches to young readers.
The media used in this book is water color and the detail achieved by this makes the art look like it stands out. The art in each page gives a soft yet crisp identity to each of the characters shown.
The book teaches readers about life in nature for an animal, in this case the fox trying to feed its pups, and how the circle of life applies to these animals. To me, this lesson is important for young children to learn. In a class lesson about animals and and nature, this book can work as an introduction to deeper topics within nature, like the killing of prey for the feeding of a family.
The media used in this book is water color and the detail achieved by this makes the art look like it stands out. The art in each page gives a soft yet crisp identity to each of the characters shown.
The book teaches readers about life in nature for an animal, in this case the fox trying to feed its pups, and how the circle of life applies to these animals. To me, this lesson is important for young children to learn. In a class lesson about animals and and nature, this book can work as an introduction to deeper topics within nature, like the killing of prey for the feeding of a family.
October 27, 2015
Sonya raises chickens and despite her excellent care, one night they are disturbed by a predator and she loses one. Her parents help her understand the loss and how all creatures on the earth are tasked with providing for their loved ones as best as they can, which helps her make peace with the event and move forward.
I really like the way life and death in the animal kingdom was handled here, especially how it involved looking at the situation from multiple perspectives as a way of understanding another creatures motivations. The watercolor, collage, and colored pencil artwork is lush and includes a diverse family of varying ethnic descent.
Recommended for PreK-2+.
I really like the way life and death in the animal kingdom was handled here, especially how it involved looking at the situation from multiple perspectives as a way of understanding another creatures motivations. The watercolor, collage, and colored pencil artwork is lush and includes a diverse family of varying ethnic descent.
Recommended for PreK-2+.
August 19, 2017
What an understated treasure of a book. This book has everything:
-A multiracial family without it ever being part of the "genre" or theme of the greater story; these characters are allowed to simply be
-Lovely illustrations
-The love and care of a girl for her chickens
-The love and care of a father as he helps his grieving daughter over the loss of a beloved chicken, and who paints a large picture of why the fox did it, explaining the circle of life to her in a way that resonates with a young child, while allowing her to still be sad for the loss
This is ultimately a story of love, loss and resilience, and told beautifully.
-A multiracial family without it ever being part of the "genre" or theme of the greater story; these characters are allowed to simply be
-Lovely illustrations
-The love and care of a girl for her chickens
-The love and care of a father as he helps his grieving daughter over the loss of a beloved chicken, and who paints a large picture of why the fox did it, explaining the circle of life to her in a way that resonates with a young child, while allowing her to still be sad for the loss
This is ultimately a story of love, loss and resilience, and told beautifully.
June 10, 2025
I purchased this book because I have been following Phoebe Wahl's artwork for a long time. As an aspiring children's illustrator, I wanted to see how she put her book together- and it's amazing. 1000/10 for the creative collaged illustrations. I was so excited to find out that the dust jacket could be reversed & turned into a poster- which I now have hanging in my studio. What a great idea!
I'm planning on sending this story to Remy, who has regular fox visitors in his backyard down in Novato. I loved that this book carefully and beautifully introduces children to the concept of death and reciprocity.
I'm planning on sending this story to Remy, who has regular fox visitors in his backyard down in Novato. I loved that this book carefully and beautifully introduces children to the concept of death and reciprocity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews