The Chicken Sisters

by Laura Joffe Numeroff, Sharleen Collicott (Illustrator)

When a big bad wolf moves to town, it would seem that the chicken sisters' fate is sealed, but in a clever twist, the eccentric trio saves the day. The unwitting wolf proves to be no match for the good intentions of these itching-sweater-knitting, off-key-singing, burnt-cookie-baking neighbors. Here's one wolf that's off to live with his mother!

"Off the wall fun."—Publishers Weekly

"A winner."—School Library Journal

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

Published January 9, 1999

About the author

Laura Joffe Numeroff is the NYT best-selling author of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, What Mommies/Daddies Do Best and Raising a Hero. She was born in Brooklyn, New York and graduated from Pratt Institute. Laura grew up as the youngest of three girls, surrounded by art, music, and books. An avid animal lover, Laura has always wanted to write a book about service dogs. She now lives in Los Angeles, California.

Reviews

[Ms. B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! Not only will kids enjoy listening to this one; they will enjoy performing it as a readers' theater or a dramatic play.

[Debi Cates · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had put this book on hold at our public library so it was waiting for the Littles and I when we went there today.

I read it to the littlest Little while the biggest Little was browsing the stacks.

She and I enjoyed it. We both admired the hairdo of one of the quirky but loving sisters. However Little could hardly believe that anyone would eat a burnt cookie, being a connoisseur of cookies and cakes herself.

[Nicole]

This book is about three chicken sisters that all have a little something wrong with them. The oldest sister can’t see well, but loves to bake. You know what that means; she burns everything. The middle sister loves to knit, but no one likes wearing those itchy things! And the youngest sister. She loved to sing, but she was awful. All their neighbors were so annoyed of them but never had to courage to confront them about it all. Until a wolf moves in the neighborhood. He starts to scare everyone except for the three sisters. The sisters invite him in and try to make and do all these things for him but he wants to leave. As he’s trying to make it out the door he gets tangled up in the yarn and falls. Right at that moment all the neighbors walk in. They think they’re hurting the wolf so they don’t end up saying anything. The wolf ends up leaving town and all the neighbors’ party at the chicken sisters

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book about three chicken sisters who go from being annoyances to their neighbors to heroes. I read it to a tough crowd of 3rd graders. One little boy who'd been moping and knocking stuff off surfaces and the wall actually sat down to listen and stayed until the end. Another who'd been jabbering on non-stop to his friend actually started to pay attention as well and started making comments about the book. Good stuff.

[Brianna Krum]

The oldest sister likes to bake treats. The middle sister likes to knit and the youngest sister loves to sing. There was a wolf that moved next door and was trying to be nice to the neighbors however the chicken sisters were the only ones that were nice to him but he did not like the younger sisters singing so he left town. For this book, I would do a more complex sequencing activity with the students.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a big bad wolf moves to town, it would seem that the chicken sisters' fate is sealed, but in a clever twist, the eccentric trio saves the day. The unwitting wolf proves to be no match for the good intentions of these itching-sweater-knitting, off-key-singing, burnt-cookie-baking neighbors. Here's one wolf that's off to live with his mother!

[Kati · Rating 2 out of 5]

A silly story about three eccentric chicken sisters and their “quirky” hobbies; the neighbors who hate those quirky hobbies; and the way those very hobbies drive away a potentially dangerous new neighbor. The story feels like it means to be sweet, but was actually rather exclusionary of those who are different.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly.

[Becky Galambos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, but kind of sad. Especially for a children's book. Not the ending I'd expected.

[LizthePrude · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 sisters that match myself and my 2 other sisters! One likes to bake, I love yarn and crocheting, and the last loves to sing.

[Olivia Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book. It is very well illustrated and has a good them behind it.

[Alicia Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neighbors excuse the less than perfect neighbors because they scare off a wolf.
Note* Male wolf wears a pink ballerina tutu costume.

[Collin Duax]

The illustrations in this book were very funny. Laura Numeroff does a good job making her books enjoyable for children.

[Janet Brownstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Easy, light reading .

[Marissa Dunlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Three Little pigs story but with chicken sisters! Super cute!

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked that all the sisters supported each other’s passions and thought it was funny and specific that the wolf moved to Atlantic City 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute and humorous picture book with a satisfying ending, really liked the animals facial expressions throughout the book.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of the neighbors complain about the chicken sisters. They complain about the smoke and burnt pastries, they complain about the off-key singing, they complain about the itchy hats and sweaters. And when a big, bad wolf moves in next door, it would seem that all hope is lost. That is until this wolf meets the wacky chicken sisters.
The goofy and naive sisters are enjoyable to read about. They are extremely close with one another, supporting each other in their respective passions, no matter how good or bad they are at them. Their naivety about their neighbors feelings and the intentions of the wolf make the reader fall in love with them.
The illustrations are the highlight of this slapstick comedy. The text tells of a scary wolf as he sets out to terrify all his neighbors. In reality, he is completely harmless and even had a fake set of human-like teeth. The pastel colors are all warm and inviting, sharing the experience with the reader. I could almost taste those burnt cookies and hear Babs off-key singing. The illustrations also add humor and silliness to the story. Poppy, who loved to knit, has encased every piece of furniture in her house with knitted covers and she almost seems to be burying herself in her yarn.

[Bethany Sutherland]

The Chicken Sisters is a book about three sisters who happen to be chickens. They each have a unique set of talent. Violet likes to bake, Poppy likes to knit, and Babs likes to sing. While each of them enjoy each other's talent, the neighbors do not. They always complained to each other, but never did anything about it. One day, a wolf moved into town and was having a little fun scaring everyone, but when he got to the chicken sisters' house they gave him cookies, measured him for a sweater, and sang to him. He tried to get away, but was caught. He went on to move to the city with his mother and all the neighbors never complained again.

I liked this book because it is about chicken sisters and it relates to my sister and I and how we have pet chickens. I also remember Melita reading this book to me last year.

I would have a lit circle where the class got into groups and read a book during class. This book would be one of the choices.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a silly story, about three chickens who have hobbies that do not make their neighbors happy. It's an odd story that somehow involves Halloween costumes as well, but it's fun to read aloud. The illustrations are very vibrant and colorful and our girls enjoyed the story. We liked listening to the story narrated by Barbara Rosenblatt on CD while we followed along with the book. It was part of a kit that we borrowed from our local library which included a paperback book with ISBN 0064435202 / ISBN13 9780064435208.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story the three chicken sisters all have something 'quirky' about them that their neighbors don't like. And they are mean and want to get rid of the sisters because it's so annoying. BUT a new neighbor moves in and he's a wolf! He scares everyone all the time and everyone lives in fear. BUT the chicken sisters invite him over for burnt sweets, to listen to of key singing and gets wrapped up in knitting. He's the one scared now and says that if they will let him go he will move away and never come back! The other neighbors learn that they need to appreciate what they have.

[Jen]

(1997) Violet, Poppy, and Babs are three chicken sisters with three very different hobbies. Violet bakes, Poppy knits, and Babs sings--but they all do their hobbies badly and this is annoying their neighbors. One day a fox moves into the neighborhood and it scares everyone. He soon goes to visit the chicken sisters and Violet invites him in to sample her baking. Soon the wolf is sick from overeating and scared by the three chickens. After he decides to move away to live with his mother in Atlantic City, and the chicken sisters throw a party to celebrate and mend ties with their neighbors.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute story with beautiful illustrations. Its about 3 sisters who have some hobbies that the neighbors do not enjoy, but when the chickens do something that helps them their opinions change!

I love the three sisters, they are so happy and just oblivious to anyone's unhappiness with them. The illustrations are very bright and bold and portray the characters emotions beautifully! Wonderful book!

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly didn't really enjoy this book all too much. It was mainly about how the three chickens had mice neighbors who didn't like them but when they found a wolf in the chickens' home, then they were ok with them and decided to all be friends again. I thought the visuals were very detailed, I just didn't particularly like the storyline. It didn't capture my complete attention.

[Charmaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story that illustrates the misfortunate lifestyle of three chickens sister with weird hobbies. Everyone in the town are displeased with the chicken hobbies but never complain to the chickens. However, the chickens hobbies helps get rid of the big bad wolf in the town.I would read this story to children to help build awareness of characters in a story.

[Kischka · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quirky kids book about three sisters (chickens), each with their own questionable talents who first annoy the neighbors, but then save them from an annoying wolf. Odd, but charming. Easy to read aloud, and the kids love the pictures.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, those chicken sisters and their eccentric ways. I love the chicken with the crazy looking dreadlocks hair.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books!

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wolf is no match for Violet, Poppy and Babs who use their previously questionable talents to save the neighborhood.

[Emily Begala · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the fact that the three sisters had a fun hobby. I thought the story line needed to be developed more. I enjoyed the bright colored illustrations.