Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones...

How I Heard About It:  I believe I saw this title several times via Twitter and made a mental note to pick it up the next time I was book shopping.  Last weekend I had a great visit to the local bookstore, saw this on the shelf, and added it to my stack.  I was quite curious about it based on the interesting title and cover.  

What It Is About:  Sophie and her family have moved from the city to her great uncle's farm.  They know nothing about farmer, but are going to try to make a go of it.  Sophie spends her time writing letters to her grandmother and her great uncle about her new life on the farm.  She doesn't get replies back because both of them have died.  Regardless, she likes sharing her thoughts with them.  Sophie's life gets a bit more complicated when chickens begin to appear on the farm.  You wouldn't think this to be a problem, but these are not ordinary chickens.  Each one has quite a special quality about it.  Sophie learns they may be chickens that use to live on the farm with her Uncle Jim.  She begins to write letters to a "farm" asking for assistance in caring for the chickens.  As more and more chickens join the farm family, Sophie has to be careful with her parents and a "farmer" who seems to want the chickens for herself.  With a little help from a new friend, Sophie makes it her mission to keep the chickens safe, feed, and away from harm.  

What I Thought Of It:   This was a delightful story about a city girl trying to adjust to farm life.  Now this would be hard enough, but add in some unusual chickens and you have a great story.  I liked how the plot was told in letter format between Sophie and the other characters.  This story has great relationships, a bit of silly, and a dash of mystery.  All the things that a young reader looks for in a story.  I found the book to be pure fun and enjoyed my time with it.  A great addition to my classroom collection.

Who Should Read It:  I'm think this could make for a super read aloud in graders two, three, four, or even five.  It would also be awesome to put in young readers hands because of the letter format and all the fun illustrations.  The independent reading level is probably around third to fifth grade, but could also work for younger and older readers.  This book will appeal to most kids because of the animals, the silliness of the chickens, and the mystery to boot.  Happy Reading!  

Rating:  4 STARS out of 5 Stars