An-Animal-a-Month: Chickens
Back to school with chickens! From how they grow up to their ancient relatives, read all about these intelligent fowl.
Pip, pip, peep! Feel the excitement build as you wait, along with Mrs. Best’s students, for the eggs in classroom 6 to hatch. As you count down 21 days, learn about hens, roosters, chicken development, and how to incubate eggs. When the big day arrives, you’ll be there to witness the birth in vivid photographs and receive a how-to lesson in raising chicks. Ages 3-7.
Kind of nonfiction: Narrative. It relays the experience of a teacher and her students as they hatched chicks in the classroom. Short, informative sidebars can be browsed along with the photographs. The book invites active participation by showing how to raise chicks and by providing further resources for teachers and families who would like to try hatching chicks themselves. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
Ties to Next Generation Science Standards
K-LS1-1 – Both the main text and sidebars describe the needs of developing chicken embryos, newborn chicks, and older chicks.
1-LS1-2 – Text and photographs show how a hen’s nesting behavior, including providing warmth, moisture, and egg turning, helps her eggs survive. When humans rear chicks from eggs, they must mimic the hen’s behaviors. When it’s developmentally ready, a chick’s pipping behavior helps it hatch. Older chicks know how to scratch the ground with their feet to forage for plants, seeds, and insects. They also know to eat small stones and dirt to aid in digestion.
All your chicken questions answered in one place, with clear explanations, eye-catching illustrations, and diagrams galore. This 71-page book covers chickens from their anatomy, feathers, and senses to their evolution, intelligence, and history. It’s beautiful and fun to read. Ages 5-9.
Kind of nonfiction: Browsable. Whether you choose a page at random or from the table of contents, you’ll be treated to unusual and fascinating information. Great for children who like to learn and share facts with friends and for school reports. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
A chicken followed the author’s neighbor home, inspiring this charming book. It answers all the questions one would have if a chicken came to live at your home, from what to feed it to how to have baby chicks. The engaging first-person question-and-answer text, along with striking illustrations create a lively, informative read. Ages 5-10.
Kind of nonfiction: Traditional, leaning toward Expository Literature, with back matter including a diagram of chicken development. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
Re-building a life with the help of chicks! When an injured hawk’s eggs don’t hatch, her caregiver replaces them with chicken eggs, and the hawk raises the chicks as if they were her own.
Though primarily about the hawk and the devoted zoologist who nursed and created a new life for the hawk, I included this book because it helps children build empathy toward animals. It’s an inspiring story with a positive message about overcoming adversity with the help of caring people. Ages 5-9.
Kind of nonfiction: Narrative. A true story, too good not to share. The author is the naturalist and environmental educator who cares for the hawk, so this is an example of a primary resource. She recounts her experiences with straightforward language and close-up photographs, and includes a glossary and more information about hawks and helping them. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
And because chickens are birds, and birds are dinosaurs, I’ve included a new dinosaur book.
I’m a fan of Brenda Z. Guiberson’s and Gennady Spirin’s first book, The Most Amazing Creature in the Sea. Their newest book doesn’t disappoint! Each dinosaur argues why it’s the greatest beast to ever have lived. As they boast of their assets, you come to better know the familiar dinos as well as some more unusual ones, such as egg-laying and antarctic-dwelling ones. The reader/listener is invited to ponder the meaning of greatness. Ages 4-8.
Kind of nonfiction: Expository literature. The creative text structure and commanding voice create a captivating dinosaur book for all, not just those who can’t get enough of dinosaurs. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)