If you've ever wondered about chickens or their eggs -- perhaps which came first -- this introduction is a good place to start. Separated into five sections (about chickens; chicken anatomy; the egg; chickens and humans; and different breeds), this title effectively makes the case that chickens are intelligent, unique, and fascinating creatures. (Did you know, for instance, that chickens can be taught to play the piano? And that they don't pee?) The clean and colorful illustrations, featuring neatly labeled diagrams and infographics and creative, occasionally whimsical drawings, are a good match for the straightforward text. (c) Copyright 2023. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Prepare to be fascinated by the varied world of chickens, presented here in charming detail. Rather than only discussing a chicken's development from egg to adult, this book also boasts sections on chicken personality, courtship, and feathers; anatomy, intelligence, and super senses; eggs in the kitchen and around the world; "Chickens and Humans," which inspects chickens in human culture, in addition to raising and caring for these feathered friends; and it closes with a sampling of breeds. Much as Bees: A Honeyed History (2017), by Piotr Socha, approached its subject holistically, this encyclopedia will leave readers with a rounded and respectful view of chickens. The folk art-style illustrations do more than accompany the text, often taking the form of diagrams, charts, and labeled scenes. Readers will get to know chickens inside and out, with science-based spreads tackling everything from molting to mating, comb to cloaca. Of equal interest are the descriptions of chickens as symbols (e.g., rooster-topped weathervanes) and as players in folktales. When it comes to keeping chickens, this book offers a big-picture view of what these birds need to be healthy and happy, but those serious about acquiring a hen or two will need additional literature on the topic. Endearingly dubbing chickens "irresistible companions," this educational overview of all things chicken is bound to hatch some new enthusiasts.

From Italy, an illustrated introduction to the wonderful world of chickens. While it's not a practical manual for the keeping of chickens, authors Sandri and Giubbilini provide a comprehensive and charming introduction to some of humanity's feathered friends, complete with 71 fully illustrated pages of all things chicken and egg, courtesy of illustrator Pintonato. The trio takes readers through the 5,000-year history of the chicken-human relationship, the spectrum of breeds alive today, and even the question of "the chicken and the egg." Beginning with advice for young readers on how to differentiate between (adult) hens and roosters and identify different types and colorations and feathers and a survey of the inner and outer anatomy of a chicken, the book is a cheerful, if not scientific, overview for curious kids. More-advanced readers may find it lacking in certain areas. In one unnerving illustration, various breeds of chicken are placed next to a "three-year-old boy" with the proportions of a grown man--making the Jersey giant seem giant, indeed. And notably, while an entire section on eggs takes readers through the different parts, colors, and sizes, the various ways eggs are used in kitchens around the world are illustrated--but not explained--and different cultures' approaches to eating chickens for meat are completely absent. There is neither bibliography nor source notes of any kind. A thorough breakdown of all things chickens--for beginners. (Nonfiction. 6-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.