Chicken Talk: A Delightful Farm Story About Barnyard Surprise and Fun for Kids

by Patricia MacLachlan, Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Illustrator)

The chickens on the farm have a message for their farm owners! They’re tired of arugula salad, how about putting a fan in their hot coop, and HEY—watch out for that snake in your tent.

As the children walk around their beloved farm, they discover more and more chicken talk scratched into the dirt. The family can hardly believe it. What will the chickens possibly say next!?

With beautiful watercolor illustrations from New York Times bestseller Jarrett J. Krosoczka and heartwarming text by Newbery Medal-winning author Patricia MacLachlan, Chicken Talk is the perfect book to chuckle over, whether you live in the city or the country.

Gather your family around for a delightful tale of surprise, chaos, and barnyard fun in Chicken Talk!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Humor, Birds, Juvenile

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Patricia MacLachlan was born on the prairie, and always carried a small bag of prairie dirt with her wherever she went to remind her of what she knew first. She was the author of many well-loved novels and picture books, including Sarah, Plain and Tall, winner of the Newbery Medal; its sequels, Skylark and Caleb's Story; and Three Names, illustrated by Mike Wimmer. She lived in western Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, that Patricia MacLachlan and her chickens! :-) They're quite a team. Chicken Talk isn't the first time barnyard fowl have factored into her books, but here she brings illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka along for the ride, and the two have an amusing dynamic. Farmer Otis's spread in the country is a nice place to live. He and his wife Abby keep eleven hens—Trixie, Bitsy, Grace, Boo, and seven white ones named Joyce—along with a rooster named Pedro, who guards his lovely ladies from predatory animals. Otis and Abby's son and daughter, Willie and Belle, adore the chickens, reading them books under a big shade tree and often letting them run free on the farm. One day a message appears, scrawled in the dirt: "No more arugula". Otis and Abby aren't home, and Willie and Belle know they didn't write it. Have the hens learned human language?

It seems so. Further written messages are found in the coming days. One mocks a local fox, and another asks that Willie and Belle read different kinds of books to the chickens. An admonishment directed at Tripp, the mailman, tells him to drive more carefully where the chickens play by the road. Townsfolk don't believe in literate chickens as readily as Otis, Abby, Willie, and Belle, but after the birds convince Tripp, everyone else follows his lead, and the farm sells more produce than ever. The chickens continue writing messages, requesting improved accommodations and sensitivity to their individual identities—do all the Joyces really want to be called the same name?—but the hens and Pedro do love the farm, and are grateful for their human caretakers. The future should be interesting, living alongside chickens who communicate via the written word.

Chicken Talk isn't lyrical, thoughtful, or emotional like Patricia MacLachlan's best-loved books. It plays fast and loose with logic, opting for unencumbered silliness. I could easily imagine Dick King-Smith having come up with the idea, though I'm sure he would have executed it better. I prefer Patricia MacLachlan's more serious books, but Chicken Talk is worth a chuckle or two, and I think I'll rate it one and a half stars. For readers just wanting to spend a few moments with some spunky chickens, this book is for you.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this one three times and I still don't feel like I could keep all the humans straight. Part of me appreciates the naming, but honestly I couldn't carry over who Otis and Abby were from one spread to the next. The illustrations are delightful, as Krosoczka's always are, but the text is a miss for me.

[Shaye Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

At Willie and Belle’s farm there are 11 hens named Trixie, Grace, Bitsy, Boo, Joyce, Joyce, Joyce, Joyce, Joyce, Joyce, and Joyce. That’s right, there are seven Joyces (because they cannot tell any of them apart). Additionally, there’s one protective rooster named Pedro. A mystery is brewing as the family wakes up to messages scratched in the dirt each day, but no one knows who is writing them. The chickens don’t want salad, the mailman drives too fast, the Joyces each want their own names, and it’s too hot in the henhouse. But keep guessing throughout this story because you won’t find out who-done-it until the very last page! 🙂

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Farmer Otis and his wife, Abby, loved their chickens. Their children, Willie and Belle, loved them, too.

Premise/plot: The chickens on this farm are about to express themselves! These chickens have learned to write and they have OPINIONS to share. What will this family think of these amazing chickens?!

Some sample of their writing:

No more ARUGULA
The fox is not intelligent.
More stories about brave chickens.
You drive too fast. Cheerful chickens cross this road.

My thoughts: I loved this one. It was fun and silly. I love picture books about chickens. There have been so many good books starring chickens.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable. No other words for it. Good message to parents that reading to their children actually encourages literacy. The seven Joyces cracked me up, especially when they revealed their "real" names (Louisa May Alcott and Emily Dickinson).

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a big fan of illustrator, Jarrett Krosoczka, I was eager to see his picture book with acclaimed author Patricia McLachlan, whom I also adore...while a cute story about chickens who write messages to their humans - it really didn't pack the punch or the message I thought it was leading up to or even humor... it just left me with a "meh" feeling at the end.

[Cassandra Elise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable book about chickens who learn to write thanks to their human family reading to them. They end up scratching oftentimes hilarious or touching messages in the sand. Good theme about the importance of reading to youngsters. Illustrations are sweet and add to the spirit of the book.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/8/2024 - A fun and light story.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way too cute! Those smart, cheeky chickens! My, oh, my! 🐔

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The animals around us have a lot they wish to say if only the people would pay close attention and listen. This fun picture book tells the story of a barnyard full of chickens that one day decide to start sharing their opinions in writing: they're tired of eating salads, they want better names, they love hearing stories about other chickens. After the postal carrier learns of these communicative chickens, the word is spread and everyone wants to know what they have to say. This book could be a good mentor text for young writers to imagine what the animals in their own lives might wish to say. This book would also pair well with the beloved classic, Charlotte's Web by E.B. White.

[Margaret]

To speculate on what our world would be like if all living beings could communicate with each other is always fuel for discussion, research, marvelous fiction and potential questions. Would they be furious with our lack of care for the environment? Would they be horrified at rate of species going extinct? Would they demand we stop clear-cutting forests? Would they applaud our recycling efforts or our endeavors to rescue wild and domesticated animals? Would they be happy to see more people are planting honey bee and butterfly-friendly gardens?

Closer to home, what would our pets have to ask or tell us? There might be a certain chocolate Labrador retriever who would demand more treats, more chew toys, and a lot more running around outside. Chicken Talk (Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, January 15, 2018) written by Patricia MacLachlan with pictures by Jarrett J. Krosoczka follows a brood of hens and one confident rooster who act with comical consequences.

My full recommendation: https://librariansquest.blogspot.com/...

[Michael Ben Silva III · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a let down. I genuinely enjoyed the art and the story as a whole, but found the writing often difficult to parse. It used names interchangeably with family roles, and in such a short book there's little time to solidify who exactly is who. Also there were several instances where I felt like a crucial explanatory line was edited out, leaving the text dangling and unclear. I really, really wanted to like this one, but it just would not work as a story time book without serious in the moment editing and extrapolating on the reader's part.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this delightful story and immediately started planning a chicken-themed story time for this winter/spring! LOVE.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

bleh, no thank you

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Farmer Otis, his wife Abby, and his children Willie and Belle love their chickens. They also have a rooster named Pedro who protects the hens from predators. They also sell the hens' eggs after writing on it the name of who laid it. But their chickens are special and they have a lot to say.

One day, they found a message written in the dirt that said, "No more arugula." The chickens are the only ones who eat arugula, but it's hard to believe chickens could do that. When it keeps happening over and over again, the family knows it has to be the chickens. They can even determine which chicken wrote what. The hardest part is to get other people in the town to believe.

CHICKEN TALK is a fun read where the chickens tell you what's really on their minds. I love the humor in it, like when the rooster writes, "The fox is not intelligent." I also laughed at the message the chickens leave for the mailman.


Final Verdict: This is perfect for fans of animals, chickens, and humor.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture book. After we started our backyard chicken flock, my son wanted to read lots of chicken books. I recognized both the author and illustrator of this book and decided to five it a try. It's a cute story of a family that raises chickens and a rooster. They sell the eggs to the neighbors and label them with the name of the laying hen. Seven of their hens are named Joyce, which makes the labeling go a bit faster. One day when the parents are out of two, the two kids find a message written in the dirt. It seems to be from the chickens! After the first message, the chicken talk increases, including a commentary on the mailman's speed, name change requests from the Joyces, and other tidbits. A cute farm story that might make the backyard chicken owner wonder what their chickens would have to say.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you read books to your chickens like Willie and Belle do, you might find that they start sending messages back -- scratched in the dirt. Short little missives like this: "No more arugula" or "The fox is not intelligent" or perhaps "More stories about brave chickens." As the messages get more specific, they can tell which of their many chickens was the scribe. Soon everyone in town is coming out to buy eggs and find out what the chicken talk of the day is. (Reminds me a bit of 'Charlotte's Web.')🕷🐷
Spend some time with Farmer Otis and family as the chickens make their requests visible -- good think they learned how to read. And their best message of all: "We love you, good night."

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free range hens, fed arugula and given by their owners... beautiful rocking chairs on the porch of the main house? Sure.

If that's not enough to strain your credulity, turns out these chickens can write. Hence the name, "Chicken Talk."

This clever book earns FIVE STARS.

However...

I have it on good authority that my heart is plenty warm. If you're like me, you won't find this story the least bit "heartwarming." But don't blame yourself or the author and illustrator. All books are not for all readers. I did enjoy the classic rocking chairs on the porch, reserved for chickens.

[Michelle (MichellesBookishLife)]

Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan is a funny book about chickens who write messages to their farmers! At first the family is puzzled at who is writing the messages, and when the kids figure it out, they worry no one will believe them. Then the chickens become the talk of the town and people come from far and wide to see what the chickens’ next message will be. Find out for yourself in Chicken Talk by Patricia MacLachlan!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

With words by Patricia MacLachland and illustrations by Jarrett Krosoczka you can't go wrong. Reminiscent of Charlotte's messages in her web, the chickens on Farmer Otis' farm scrawl messages in the dirt to convey their thoughts and wishes. I think young writers will love this story and see the power that comes from writing. Can't wait to share this one.

[Carol V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exactly what do the chicken says as they squawk around the farmyard during the daytime. Here is a really positive solution. The illustrations in Chicken Talk are bright and cheerful. Look in as a family works together to investigate who is scratching messages in the dirt. A reader might have a better understanding of what it takes to raise chickens after reading and discussing this book.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paying homage to Dorene Cronin and Betsy Lewin, Jerrett J. Krosoczka and Patricia MacLachlan put their own take on farm animal/human communication. Not as political as the older book, but might appeal to teachers with the nice message about the power of words. For older kids it might be fun to pair/compare the two.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun story about a farming family with 11 chickens (7 of which are named 'Joyce') who they love very much. One day, the chickens start leaving messages scratched in the dirt to address some quality of life concerns. Eventually, said concerns are addressed and the messages lead to an increased interest in the farm, ala Charlotte's Web. Some Chickens indeed!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and funny with a question that may or not be unanswered. This will be a fun book for a read aloud! I loved the messages, especially "More Stories about Brave Chickens!"

James Krosoczka's warm funny illustrations are a delight too.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chickens leave humorous messages in the farmyard. Everyone in the farm family tries to figure out where the messages are coming from. Gentle humor and cute illustrations. Compare to Click Clack Moo and Martha Speaks.

[Beth Bauman · Rating 5 out of 5]

lol, this is a really fun book, by Patricia MacLachlan no less! I would be hard pressed to find anything of hers that I do not adore. It made me laugh how all the white chickens are named Joyce. Top tier comedy, if you ask me.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and silly tale with expressive watercolor illustrations.

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A cute version of charlottes web!

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The farmer and his family love their chickens. One day they find a message scratched in the dirt. Could a chicken have done that? More messages are found. Funny, cute story with great illustrations.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. My only criticism is that there are too many chicken names, but I guess that's partly the point