Chicken Bedtime Is Really Early

by Erica S. Perl, George Bates (Illustrations)

Little ones are introduced to the various bedtimes of barnyard animals, all of whom want to avoid sleep as much as possible, in a rollicking picture book.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Birds

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2005

About the author

Erica S. Perl is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 40 popular and critically acclaimed books for young readers. She won the National Jewish Book Award and a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her middle grade novel, ALL THREE STOOGES. She is also the author of many well-loved picture books, including THE NINTH NIGHT OF HANUKKAH and GOATILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS, as well as several book serieses (including the TRUTH OR LIE nonfiction series). She is the co-author, with Dolly Parton, of the BILLY THE KID picture book series. She is also the co-author, with R.J. Palacio, of WHITE BIRD: A NOVEL. A crowd-pleasing presenter, Erica is available for school visits, bookstore, and library events. Follow her @ericaperl on social media and visit her website to connect with her.

Reviews

[Becky B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Various animals get ready for bed at different times of the evening and night.

This started off with farm animals going to bed at different times but then it added fish, frogs, and hamsters and seemed to lose its farm focus. I also thought it was a bit weird of the book to say that between 1am and 4am nothing was active except hamsters because there's a whole host of nocturnal animals that could have been incorporated. (It just felt like either there wasn't enough room for more animals or the author lost inspiration at that point.) The rhyming was decent as were the illustrations, and I can see many little animal lovers adoring this book. An ok book if your introducing time to a child, or as mentioned have an animal lover. I thought some aspects could have been done better.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rhyming, imaginative story of different animals getting ready for bed.

Mostly focuses on farm animals, or wild animals, with a lot of... inaccurate, but cute bedtime preparations. Perhaps the most accurate part was noting that hamsters are nocturnal. Good choice for encouraging youngsters to do their bedtime routine, not a good choice for realism.

No content issues.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty odd rhyming and way too long.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit long for very young children, but cute art

[Christine Grant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chicken Storytime

Explore the various bedtime routines of farm animals. Much more than chickens. Rhyming.

[Abby Peskin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s bedtime on the farm. What will all of the animals do to go to bed?

[Maeve · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was really funny. It was also nice because besides the hamsters, my toddler knew the animals and was naming them along with me.

[Elizabeth Browder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about different animals bedtimes. It would be perfect as just a silly book to relate to young children and what they do at bedtime.

[Autumn Fortier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A childhood favorite and it rhymes!

[Amy Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perl, E.& Bates, G. (2005). Chicken Bedtime is Really Early. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams Publishing.

Starred review Booklist 2005.

It is bedtime for the animals on the farm. This rhyming story is illustrated with bold, cut-out style illustrations. The colors progress with the passing of time: greens to blues to purples as it gets later, then back to reds and yellows as the sun comes up the next day. There are fun details that humanize the animals - a flossing chick, a weight-lifting rooster, mama bunny looking sleepy in the morning with her cup of coffee. The middle of the night part of the story is moved along by a funny pile of hamsters who sleep for an hour then are up all night. Some children may recognize themselves in the stalling techniques used by a few of the animals. ���One more glass of water?��� This would be a great book to use for rhyming chunks (bed, head; sleep, sheep). It would be useful for developing time-telling skills. Or students could make a timeline of the animals bedtime routine and their own. Grades PreK - 1.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perl, E.& Bates, G. (2005). Chicken Bedtime is Really Early. New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams Publishing.

Starred review Booklist 2005.

It is bedtime for the animals on the farm. This rhyming story is illustrated with bold, cut-out style illustrations. The colors progress with the passing of time: greens to blues to purples as it gets later, then back to reds and yellows as the sun comes up the next day. There are fun details that humanize the animals - a flossing chick, a weight-lifting rooster, mama bunny looking sleepy in the morning with her cup of coffee. The middle of the night part of the story is moved along by a funny pile of hamsters who sleep for an hour then are up all night. Some children may recognize themselves in the stalling techniques used by a few of the animals. “One more glass of water?” This would be a great book to use for rhyming chunks (bed, head; sleep, sheep). It would be useful for developing time-telling skills. Or students could make a timeline of the animals bedtime routine and their own. Grades PreK - 1.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was really cute. I would suggest it for a younger audience. The picture were very bright and texturedand had mny shapes incorporated in them. You could use this book for a math lesson as well. This would be a great book to read as an "activating strategy" for a unit on animals.

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice little book about a large variety of animals on a fantasy farm getting ready for bed. The lighthearted verse offers up the idea that animal families aren't much different from our own. Everyone likes a nice warm sleeping spot and a kiss goodnight from Mama.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read to the kids.

[Amy (Bossy Bookworm) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like the unruly hamsters. Henry likes how the chicks wear nightcaps to bed.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute book although I find it to be a little long.

[Samantha Penrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute! A great bedtime story.

[Erica Perl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I am the author. Visit me at ericaperl.com.

[babyhippoface · Rating 2 out of 5]

While this is a nice bedtime book, Chicken Butt remains my favorite Erica Perl title, forever and all-time.

[Machim]

Children's Books

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our daughter's current favorites. The pictures of baby rabbits in footie pajamas just might be the cutest thing ever.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love ths story and rhyming. Love the pictures. Hate the font.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming text describes how different animal mothers and fathers get their young ones ready for bed on the farm.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be utilized in so many different ways. From counting shapes for a math lesson, to teaching time this colorful book is good for all.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might be a fun way to introduce time to little ones. With each hour that an animal went to sleep, one of the children changed our clock to match the time.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)

The animals all go to bed at different times and with many different routines and stall tactics. Some of these things may be like bedtime at your home too!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son asked for this one a lot when we borrowed it from the library. We really enjoyed "bun-dads" & "footie pajamies".

[Desi A · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fortunate pass-along book from a friend. Funny and whimsical and I love the illustrations of the tired and slightly put-upon parents as their wee'uns get ready for bed.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun bedtime story about animals on a farm and their very different bed time routines.

[Maria]

Used this for storytime, love the rhyming and the illustrations.