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Georgette.
Georgette, the dancing French hen, involves her human friends in a lot of trouble.
60 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1973
16 people want to read
About the author
Claire Huchet Bishop
35 books27 followersClaire Huchet Bishop (December 30 1898 – 13 March 1993) was a Swiss-born American children's novelist and librarian. She was the winner of the Newbery Honor Medal for "Pancakes-Paris" and "All Alone," and won the Josette Frank Award for "Twenty and Ten." Her children's book "The Five Chinese Brothers" won the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award in 1959.
An American born in Geneva, Switzerland, Bishop grew up in France and Geneva. She attended the Sorbonne and started the first children's library in France.
After marrying American concert pianist Frank Bishop, she moved to the United States. She worked for the New York City Public Library from 1932-1936. She was an apologist for Roman Catholicism and an opponent of antisemitism.
She was a lecturer and storyteller throughout the U.S., and a children's book editor. Beal was the President of International Council of Christians & Jews from 1975–1977, and the President of the Jewish-Christian Fellowship of France from 1976-1981.
After residing in New York for 50 years, Bishop returned to France and died in Paris in 1993. She was 94 years old.
An American born in Geneva, Switzerland, Bishop grew up in France and Geneva. She attended the Sorbonne and started the first children's library in France.
After marrying American concert pianist Frank Bishop, she moved to the United States. She worked for the New York City Public Library from 1932-1936. She was an apologist for Roman Catholicism and an opponent of antisemitism.
She was a lecturer and storyteller throughout the U.S., and a children's book editor. Beal was the President of International Council of Christians & Jews from 1975–1977, and the President of the Jewish-Christian Fellowship of France from 1976-1981.
After residing in New York for 50 years, Bishop returned to France and died in Paris in 1993. She was 94 years old.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 8, 2009
Georgette
First Chapter Books
Grade2-3
This story takes place in Paris, France and the illustrator, Landshoff, uses the blue, white and red colors of the French flag in the drawings. Most of the illustrations are black and white, with the occasional accents of blue and red. The illustrations have an innocent, child-like yet sophisticated style that is fitting for the story. There are a lot of illustrations and minimal text on the pages, placing this book in the first chapter category; however, I would recommend this book for an advanced 2nd grader because Bishop includes a lot of French cultural references and expressions such as “ma petite chérie,” which means little darling, or little dear one. There is a lot of French humor and cultural references that make this story original and interesting, but it would also make it a little more challenging for young readers to read and understand.
Lucie is ten years old, which is quite a bit older than the target age group this book is intended for. She lives with her mother in an apartment in Paris. Her mother is a ballet dancer and Lucie loves to play the piano. Madame Maginot, the apartment concierge, takes in a hen, Georgette, to lay eggs. Georgette can only lay eggs when Lucie plays the Turkish Rondo by Mozart on her piano. Lucie lives only with her mother because she lost her siblings and father in a car accident. Madame Maginot says “Oh, you poor dear, all alone, no brother, no sister! And no father. Killed in a car accident when you were a baby. And your beautiful, kind mother….She should remarry and give you a father.” That is a bit dark and morbid for young children. Nonetheless, Bishop portrays Lucie as bright, happy and loved.
The neighbor, Monsieur Dupas notifies the police when Georgette enters his apartment window and takes some of his important papers intended for the Scientific Research Institute. Later, Monsieur Dupas withdraws his complaint when he is charmed by Georgette dancing to Lucie’s piano playing. The final scene is funny because there is a celebration complete with champagne cork popping and filled champagne glasses. Madame Maginot flirts with the policeman and Monsieur Dupas flirts with Lucie’s mother as everyone celebrates.
This is a refreshing first chapter book, and I probably would have enjoyed this book when I was a little girl, but I have French grandparents and I am familiar with French culture. I think most children, especially if they are not familiar with French culture, would not entirely enjoy this book and might become frustrated with the French expressions, and cultural references. French expressions and cultural references aside, there are many things in this book that most young children will not understand even if it is not difficult for them to read the story: concierge, catastrophe, champagne, musical terms such as scales, thirds, octaves, The Turkish Rondo by Mozart, the Scientific Research Institute, and even the foreign character’s names might be a mouthful for most 2nd graders.
Language Arts/Social Studies/Science
This book is probably best introduced to children as a read aloud before expecting them to read it entirely on their own because some things in this book will need some explaining. Children will enjoy hearing this story read to them if the reader makes this animated and fun by pronouncing the foreign names such as Madame Maginot and expressions like “ma petite chérie” in a French accent. This might make them giggle and want to hear more and even spark their interest in learning French. Students can then read it on their own and write a short story about their favorite character in the book.
The story takes place in Paris, France and the cover has an illustration of the Eiffel tower in the background. Students can learn more about France’s history, the historic city of Paris and its monuments, French culture, as well as other parts of the world where French is spoken. There are several animals mentioned in the story: Mustafa the cat, Georgette the hen, chickens, rabbits, lambs, goats, pigs, parrots. The policeman tries to figure out if Georgette, the hen, is a farm animal or a pet. For science, students can learn more about different types of birds such as hens, chickens and parrots, and classifying a variety of animals into categories of farm animals, pets, and wild animals.
First Chapter Books
Grade2-3
This story takes place in Paris, France and the illustrator, Landshoff, uses the blue, white and red colors of the French flag in the drawings. Most of the illustrations are black and white, with the occasional accents of blue and red. The illustrations have an innocent, child-like yet sophisticated style that is fitting for the story. There are a lot of illustrations and minimal text on the pages, placing this book in the first chapter category; however, I would recommend this book for an advanced 2nd grader because Bishop includes a lot of French cultural references and expressions such as “ma petite chérie,” which means little darling, or little dear one. There is a lot of French humor and cultural references that make this story original and interesting, but it would also make it a little more challenging for young readers to read and understand.
Lucie is ten years old, which is quite a bit older than the target age group this book is intended for. She lives with her mother in an apartment in Paris. Her mother is a ballet dancer and Lucie loves to play the piano. Madame Maginot, the apartment concierge, takes in a hen, Georgette, to lay eggs. Georgette can only lay eggs when Lucie plays the Turkish Rondo by Mozart on her piano. Lucie lives only with her mother because she lost her siblings and father in a car accident. Madame Maginot says “Oh, you poor dear, all alone, no brother, no sister! And no father. Killed in a car accident when you were a baby. And your beautiful, kind mother….She should remarry and give you a father.” That is a bit dark and morbid for young children. Nonetheless, Bishop portrays Lucie as bright, happy and loved.
The neighbor, Monsieur Dupas notifies the police when Georgette enters his apartment window and takes some of his important papers intended for the Scientific Research Institute. Later, Monsieur Dupas withdraws his complaint when he is charmed by Georgette dancing to Lucie’s piano playing. The final scene is funny because there is a celebration complete with champagne cork popping and filled champagne glasses. Madame Maginot flirts with the policeman and Monsieur Dupas flirts with Lucie’s mother as everyone celebrates.
This is a refreshing first chapter book, and I probably would have enjoyed this book when I was a little girl, but I have French grandparents and I am familiar with French culture. I think most children, especially if they are not familiar with French culture, would not entirely enjoy this book and might become frustrated with the French expressions, and cultural references. French expressions and cultural references aside, there are many things in this book that most young children will not understand even if it is not difficult for them to read the story: concierge, catastrophe, champagne, musical terms such as scales, thirds, octaves, The Turkish Rondo by Mozart, the Scientific Research Institute, and even the foreign character’s names might be a mouthful for most 2nd graders.
Language Arts/Social Studies/Science
This book is probably best introduced to children as a read aloud before expecting them to read it entirely on their own because some things in this book will need some explaining. Children will enjoy hearing this story read to them if the reader makes this animated and fun by pronouncing the foreign names such as Madame Maginot and expressions like “ma petite chérie” in a French accent. This might make them giggle and want to hear more and even spark their interest in learning French. Students can then read it on their own and write a short story about their favorite character in the book.
The story takes place in Paris, France and the cover has an illustration of the Eiffel tower in the background. Students can learn more about France’s history, the historic city of Paris and its monuments, French culture, as well as other parts of the world where French is spoken. There are several animals mentioned in the story: Mustafa the cat, Georgette the hen, chickens, rabbits, lambs, goats, pigs, parrots. The policeman tries to figure out if Georgette, the hen, is a farm animal or a pet. For science, students can learn more about different types of birds such as hens, chickens and parrots, and classifying a variety of animals into categories of farm animals, pets, and wild animals.
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