My Hen Is Dancing (Read & Wonder) [Paperback]

Karen Wallace (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 9, 2001 | Series: Read & Wonder

Relaunch of an award-winning non-fiction series. Read and Wonder is an innovative and highly acclaimed series of non-fiction picture books about the real world. They're written from a very personal viewpoint, mixing facts with feelings, encouraging children to think, feel and imagine as they learn. These six titles include the talents of celebrated authors and illustrators such as Dick King-Smith. Barbara Firth. Anita Jeram and Karen Wallace.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-This slim, easy-to-read volume derives its title from the foot movements a chicken makes while looking for food. The little boy who owns the hen narrates the story, describing the action in the illustrations. The large-print text of one to three sentences per page can be easily handled by beginning readers. The pen-and-ink and watercolor drawings are predominantly in soft tones of yellow and brown; some are almost comical. Small illustrations and hand-printed captions add more general information to the main text. The front endpapers have pictures of 12 different breeds of hens, while the back endpapers sport the corresponding roosters. However, all are unlabeled. A nice purchase, but not a necessary one.
Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 3-6. In simple statements printed in large type and attractively spaced among realistic watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations, a young boy describes his hen's behavior and appearance. Small, hand-printed captions tucked underneath or alongside the pictures scientifically elaborate on the boy's statements. When he says his hen rolls in her dust bath, the text explains that "dust baths are good for cleaning feathers and controlling fleas." With the boy as guide, readers will sense the feel of the hen's bony skeleton wrapped in feather-duster softness, see the nesting boxes in the hen house, watch a chick hatch, then later observe the chick's amusing struggle to secure a worm. Informative yet appealingly reader-friendly, this will be a popular presentation of a hen's barnyard activities. Ellen Mandel --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 29 pages
• Publisher: Walker Childrens Paperbacks (July 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0744578922
• ISBN-13: 978-0744578928
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 8.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,270,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Favorite Children's Book about Chickens, August 24, 2011

By 

MLM (Granville, OH) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Hen Is Dancing. Karen Wallace (Read & Discover) (Paperback)

We borrowed and purchased many books in preparation for raising our own chickens. Although technically fiction, this one has been our favorite. The illustrations are wonderful--very sweet and also very much capturing the mannerisms and realistic appearance of chickens. This book is very informative and in particular is the book I always reference regarding the ever-important kid question: how do I know if there's a chick growing in this egg?

5.0 out of 5 stars another Anita Jeram classic--absolutely loved it! great for teaching kids about animals, September 1, 2008

By 

N. Ferguson "Two, Daisy, Hannah, and Kitten" (Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: My Hen Is Dancing (Read and Wonder Books) (Hardcover)

This book has absolutely beautiful. incredibly endearing illustrations by Anita Jeram (illustrator for the blockbuster bestseller about a daddy and child rabbit called "Guess How Much I Love You"). The hardcover edition's cover illustration truly doesn't represent the super-cute and detailed drawings inside-- if they replaced the cover with one of the inside illustrations I think this book would sell many, many more copies. (The paperback edition has an illustration which is a little bit more representative, but still not as cute as what's inside!)

The book gently teaches about chickens by following a sweet little boy as he notices his chickens' behavior and habits. The illustrations are not only super-cute, they illustrate all the funny things chickens do really well. :) It is clear that the author and illustrator understand and have great affection for their chickens.

I love the examples this book gives of chicken behavior-- scratching, creating dust baths, setting on eggs, finding food, hatching chicks, etc etc. If your family has hens, or your kids love visiting the petting zoo or a neighbor's hens, they will love this book.

Some families like teaching their kids that eggs don't come from a box, too. :) This book shares lots of fun facts about the endearing, funny, and fascinating creatures who provide us with eggs for breakfast, baking, and Easter time. :)

In short, this is my absolute favorite book about chickens. :) I have three pet hens that provide the family with fresh eggs (and lots of entertainment with their antics), and this book reflects their personalities and behavior really well. I'm going to try to find an extra copy for some of the neighbor kids who stop by to visit my three ladies every day.