Who You Callin' Chicken? - Hardcover

Thea Feldman has written dozens of books for children. In addition to her publishing work, she has written for the Wildlife Conservation Society and volunteered at both the Central Park Zoo and the ASPCA. She lives in New York. Stephen Green-Armytage, in addition to chickens, has photographed many politicians, athletes, and other celebrities for major magazines. Among his previous books is Dudley: The Little Terrier That Could and Extraordinary Chickens, the book that prompted the New York Times Book Review to acknowledge that "the world of chickens is a world of wonders." He lives in New York.

Grade 3-5-Facts are fun, not foul, in this lively look at chickens. Text and photos share equal importance as they present a brief history of domestic chickens, information about chickens in general, and characteristics of various breeds. The author plays with words as she cleverly enlivens what might otherwise be dry factoids. The photographer plays along, with large color pictures that capture the natural humor of the domesticated fowl. The detailed close-ups are posed portraits that coordinate with the text. The original backgrounds have been cropped out of many pictures, leaving the birds mounted on the bright, colored pages. The text is arranged casually around the art, pulling the eye across the pages and back. The visual effect is exciting. The illustrations depict many of the more than 200 breeds in the world today, with each bird clearly identified. These chickens are not common, and neither is the book. Children will find that, beyond the ordinary report source, it is an enjoyable read.-Carolyn Janssen, Children's Learning Center of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, OH
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