Three French Hens [Hardcover]

Margie Palatini (Author), Richard Egielski (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: P and up

On the third day of Christmas, a mademoiselle from Paris sent her true love three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.The hens never arrived . . . . Colette, Poulette, and Fifi end up delivered not to Philippe Renard, but to Phil Fox from the Bronx. Phil can't believe his luck-he hasn't had a square meal in weeks, and here's a free lunch right on his doorstep! But his plans to dine on the delectable fowl are foiled as the French hens work their Christmas magic on him, proving that the spirit of the holidays can bring the most unlikely folks together.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* PreS-Gr. 2. The three French hens from the familiar Christmas song are sent by a Parisian lady to her boyfriend, Philippe Renard, in New York. Alas, the hens wind up in lost mail, and when they can't find Philippe in the phone book, they think perhaps they should translate his name: Phil Fox. They find Phil Fox, but he's a downtrodden fox living in the Bronx, though he's not so low that he can't envision Colette, Poulette, and Fifi as meals. But while he plans the hens as breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they act like makeover mavens from the Style Channel, giving him massages and manicures, redecorating the apartment, and fixing gourmet canapes. No, he can't eat the birds, and insists they must spend Christmas together; they demure, informing Phil that their holiday is Hanukkah. The 12 days of Christmas and the 8 nights of Hanukkah get an interfaith, interspecies celebration in a story that is so much fun, it's hard to imagine an artist milking more laughs from it than Egielski. Phil Fox's transformation from loser to a sophisticate who seems born to wear a smoking jacket is cleverly juxtaposed by the details in the room's decor--the ceiling-to-floor pipe, now painted salmon, blends beautifully into the walls. Something really fresh for the holiday season. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 36 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (September 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786851678
• ISBN-13: 978-0786851676
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #917,286 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wow. My very first picture book -- PIGGIE PIE!, is celebrating
it's fifteenth anniversary this year! It tickles me to know that
'Gritch' is still giving giggles.
Visit her and my other characters on my website: www.margiepalatini.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply joyful!, October 24, 2005

By 

Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Three French Hens (Hardcover)

Three French hens -- Poulette, Colette, and Fifi -- get lost in the mail in New York City. They were supposed to be part of a holiday delivery to Monsieur Philippe Renard, and they can't find him in the phone book. But of course! They must translate! And so they end up on the Bronx doorstep of Phil Fox. Phil is a real fox whose only friend is the cockroach he shares a home with. Suddenly his home is bustling with hens, and his mouth begins to water in anticipation of a scrumptious holiday meal.

I'd better stop there, so you'll have a reason to read this book. What fun! It'll be great holiday fare for beginning readers and their parents. It should also appeal to most adults on many levels: the meaning of friendship, the spirit of the holidays, the amusement a child's picture book can bring. A worthy companion to the Grinch.

5.0 out of 5 stars Three French Hens, January 15, 2012

By 

Prof de francais - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Three French Hens (Hardcover)

As a prof de francais, I'm always looking for anything that can motivate my students. I stumbled upon this at the local library.
It's clever and inclusive with a great twist at the end. Fun for students of all ages as a "brain break" or as an introduction to
Christmas and Hannukah customs.

5.0 out of 5 stars "Children's Book" for Parents, December 21, 2011

By 

DrDad - See all my reviews

This review is from: Three French Hens (Hardcover)

Found this book in the library, but am now moved to buy it for several folks. Despite it being a story meant to make adults laugh - and laugh hard - and the words being far beyond most children in the under-12 crowd's vocabulary, as well as being liberally peppered with French expressions; this book still works for kids. Our almost-3 year old loves it. Beautiful pictures, hilarious story, and a noble message. Does it make sense? NO- but it's a fairy tale, and a sweet one at that.