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Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer

Illustrated by Katie Kath
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Fans of Katherine Applegate and Erin Entrada Kelly will love this quirky story of a determined girl, and some extraordinary chickens.
 
Twelve-year-old Sophie Brown feels like a fish out of water when she and her parents move from Los Angeles to the farm they’ve inherited from a great-uncle. But farm life gets more interesting when a cranky chicken appears and Sophie discovers the hen can move objects with the power of her little chicken brain: jam jars, the latch to her henhouse, the entire henhouse....
 
And then more of her great-uncle’s unusual chickens come home to roost. Determined, resourceful Sophie learns to care for her flock, earning money for chicken feed, collecting eggs. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe.
 
Told in letters to Sophie’s abuela, quizzes, a chicken-care correspondence course, to-do lists, and more, Unusual Chickens is a quirky, clucky classic in the making.
  • SELECTION
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • SELECTION
    Oregon Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Master List
  • SELECTION
    School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
  • SELECTION
    Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Master List
  • SELECTION
    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    North Carolina Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
  • FINALIST
    Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
  • SHORTLIST
    Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Master List
  • HONOR
    Judy Lopez Memorial Award
  • SELECTION
    Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fischer Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Texas Bluebonnet Master List
  • SELECTION
    Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
  • SELECTION
    Georgia Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children's and Teens
  • SELECTION
    Arkansas Charlie May Simon Master List
  • SELECTION
    Arizona Young Readers Master List
  • SELECTION
    Indiana Young Hoosier Master List
  • SELECTION
    New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Master List
  • SELECTION
    Massachusetts Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Maine Student Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books
© Susan Brown
Once upon a time, KELLY JONES was a librarian and a bookseller. Now, she writes novels for young people and takes care of a few hilarious chickens. She’s the author of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer; Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?; Murder, Magic, and What We Wore; Sauerkraut; and Happily for Now. You can find her online at her website, curiosityjones.net, or on Twitter and Instagram @curiosityjones. View titles by Kelly Jones

About

Fans of Katherine Applegate and Erin Entrada Kelly will love this quirky story of a determined girl, and some extraordinary chickens.
 
Twelve-year-old Sophie Brown feels like a fish out of water when she and her parents move from Los Angeles to the farm they’ve inherited from a great-uncle. But farm life gets more interesting when a cranky chicken appears and Sophie discovers the hen can move objects with the power of her little chicken brain: jam jars, the latch to her henhouse, the entire henhouse....
 
And then more of her great-uncle’s unusual chickens come home to roost. Determined, resourceful Sophie learns to care for her flock, earning money for chicken feed, collecting eggs. But when a respected local farmer tries to steal them, Sophie must find a way to keep them (and their superpowers) safe.
 
Told in letters to Sophie’s abuela, quizzes, a chicken-care correspondence course, to-do lists, and more, Unusual Chickens is a quirky, clucky classic in the making.

Awards

  • SELECTION
    ALA Notable Children's Book
  • SELECTION
    Oregon Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Master List
  • SELECTION
    School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
  • SELECTION
    Pacific Northwest Young Readers Choice Master List
  • SELECTION
    Tennessee Volunteer State Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    North Carolina Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
  • FINALIST
    Washington State Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award
  • SHORTLIST
    Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book Master List
  • HONOR
    Judy Lopez Memorial Award
  • SELECTION
    Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fischer Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Texas Bluebonnet Master List
  • SELECTION
    Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
  • SELECTION
    Georgia Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children's and Teens
  • SELECTION
    Arkansas Charlie May Simon Master List
  • SELECTION
    Arizona Young Readers Master List
  • SELECTION
    Indiana Young Hoosier Master List
  • SELECTION
    New Mexico Land of Enchantment Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Master List
  • SELECTION
    Massachusetts Children's Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Maine Student Book Master List
  • SELECTION
    Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Books

Author

© Susan Brown
Once upon a time, KELLY JONES was a librarian and a bookseller. Now, she writes novels for young people and takes care of a few hilarious chickens. She’s the author of Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer; Are You Ready to Hatch an Unusual Chicken?; Murder, Magic, and What We Wore; Sauerkraut; and Happily for Now. You can find her online at her website, curiosityjones.net, or on Twitter and Instagram @curiosityjones. View titles by Kelly Jones