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Sam the Man #1
Sam the Man & the Chicken Plan
Sam the Man wants to earn some money and he’s got a cluck-worthy plan in this endearing chapter book that’s the first in a new series from Frances O’Roark Dowell.
Sam the Man needs a job. Even his sister gets twenty bucks a pop for mowing people’s lawns! But seven-year-olds aren’t allowed to mow lawns, so Sam decides to ask his next door neighbor if she needs help doing other chores. It turns out she’ll pay him a whole dollar each time he can convince her dad, Mr. Stockfish, to join him for a walk. But it turns out that getting Mr. Stockfish to leave the living room isn’t easy. AND a dollar a pop isn’t going to cut it.
So when Mrs. Kerner, another neighbor, asks if Sam would like to watch her chickens, Sam jumps on the task. You can count on him, yes indeed. Watching chickens is more fun than he expects, and comes with an added it turns out that visiting the chickens is the one thing that can coax Mr. Stockfish out of the house! But what does a seven-year-old do with all the money he’s earning? It’s too little for a bike, and too much for candy. But wait! It’s just enough for a chicken of his own—the kind that lays BLUE eggs! Soon he has a whole waiting list of kids who want to buy a blue egg. And what does Sam plan on doing with his new fortune? Buy Mr. Stockfish his own chicken, of course!
Sam the Man needs a job. Even his sister gets twenty bucks a pop for mowing people’s lawns! But seven-year-olds aren’t allowed to mow lawns, so Sam decides to ask his next door neighbor if she needs help doing other chores. It turns out she’ll pay him a whole dollar each time he can convince her dad, Mr. Stockfish, to join him for a walk. But it turns out that getting Mr. Stockfish to leave the living room isn’t easy. AND a dollar a pop isn’t going to cut it.
So when Mrs. Kerner, another neighbor, asks if Sam would like to watch her chickens, Sam jumps on the task. You can count on him, yes indeed. Watching chickens is more fun than he expects, and comes with an added it turns out that visiting the chickens is the one thing that can coax Mr. Stockfish out of the house! But what does a seven-year-old do with all the money he’s earning? It’s too little for a bike, and too much for candy. But wait! It’s just enough for a chicken of his own—the kind that lays BLUE eggs! Soon he has a whole waiting list of kids who want to buy a blue egg. And what does Sam plan on doing with his new fortune? Buy Mr. Stockfish his own chicken, of course!
128 pages, Hardcover
First published August 30, 2016
8 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Frances O'Roark Dowell
48 books403 followersWhile Frances O'Roark Dowell (Dovey Coe, The Secret Language of Girls, Trouble the Water) is best known for her award-winning novels, she also hosts the popular "Off-Kilter Quilt" podcast, where she talks about her latest quilt projects with friends and fellow quilters around the globe. Her own little corner of the globe is Durham, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, two sons, and a dog named Travis. Connect with her online at FrancesDowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
June 22, 2020
3.5 STARS Pleasant enough read. Appreciate Sam's initiative to earn money and his interest in backyard chickens. My favorite aspect is the friendship that developed between Sam and his elderly neighbor, Mr. Stockfish. I love books that show how children and the elderly can be friends, how they can learn from one another and truly enjoy each other's company. It was touching to see Mr. Stockfish (who used to just sit in his chair and watch the all day news) rediscover his interest in chickens and for Sam to find a fellow human who could appreciate his own enthusiasm in having a feathered friend.
March 5, 2017
Really simple sweet book with good messages and ending. Great for 1st and 2nd graders who are reading above their reading level
August 19, 2022
A delightful, very quick read. Perfect for families to read together. I love that there's no trauma, no bullies, etc. And I love that it promotes thrift and finding joy in things like being neighborly. Bonus: there are actually *2* intergenerational friendships. I will continue with the series... and maybe if you start your kids on them, they'll continue on themselves.
March 2, 2017
My seven year old read this 5 times in the first week we had the book. She thinks it is hilarious. We also donated a copy to her second grade class library and they are reading it aloud and enjoying it.
July 26, 2016
Readers will love Sam and his plans! Looking forward to reading more in this new series.
September 1, 2023
Sam wants to make money - follow his funny schemes that lead from one thing to another.
December 17, 2016
Cute. For early chapter readers 2nd-3rd grade, but doesn't speak down to the reader. And, CHICKENS.
November 1, 2016
This early chapter book is a winner! I hope Sam the Man comes up with more plans in the future!
June 1, 2017
7 year-old Sam is the only one in his family who doesn't have a job. Even his older sister works by mowing neighbors' lawns - for $20 a pop, no less! When Sam's neighbor, Mrs. Kerner, needs someone to help look after her chickens while she's out of town, Sam jumps at the chance to earn a little spending money of his own. One thing leads to another, and Sam ends up on a series of amusing misadventures involving feather collecting, convincing his neighbor to leave the couch and go for a walk, and buying his very own chicken - one that lays blue eggs!
Okay, I have to say, this book was hilarious! And not just for kids, either. While they're laughing at the situational humor, there are all kinds of inside jokes in the narration that grown-ups will appreciate. Even the opening lines - "Sam Graham wanted a job. Everyone else in his family had a job. His dad did something with computers, and his mom did something with clients..." - had me rolling in my seat. And who wouldn't appreciate this exchange between Sam and his neighbor: "'Cable TV isn't free,' [Mr. Stockfish] said. 'It is if your mom and dad pay for it,' Sam said." And of course there's the one "horse girl" in Sam's class who tries to convince everyone to "pretend we're a herd of golden palominos." Didn't we all know someone like that? :) Gosh, there's just so many good moments, I need to stop now before I end up quoting the whole book!
Overall, the tone of the book reminds me of a fusion of Junie B. Jones and "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"... as strange as that might sound! Junie B. Jones for Frances O'Roark Dowell's excellent job capturing a seven year-old boy's unique (and often funny!) perspective on the world; "Mouse" for the way one of Sam's wacky ideas leads into another into another into another. I could see elementary schoolers welcoming this as a classroom read-aloud - one parents and teachers might enjoy as much as the kids!
Okay, I have to say, this book was hilarious! And not just for kids, either. While they're laughing at the situational humor, there are all kinds of inside jokes in the narration that grown-ups will appreciate. Even the opening lines - "Sam Graham wanted a job. Everyone else in his family had a job. His dad did something with computers, and his mom did something with clients..." - had me rolling in my seat. And who wouldn't appreciate this exchange between Sam and his neighbor: "'Cable TV isn't free,' [Mr. Stockfish] said. 'It is if your mom and dad pay for it,' Sam said." And of course there's the one "horse girl" in Sam's class who tries to convince everyone to "pretend we're a herd of golden palominos." Didn't we all know someone like that? :) Gosh, there's just so many good moments, I need to stop now before I end up quoting the whole book!
Overall, the tone of the book reminds me of a fusion of Junie B. Jones and "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"... as strange as that might sound! Junie B. Jones for Frances O'Roark Dowell's excellent job capturing a seven year-old boy's unique (and often funny!) perspective on the world; "Mouse" for the way one of Sam's wacky ideas leads into another into another into another. I could see elementary schoolers welcoming this as a classroom read-aloud - one parents and teachers might enjoy as much as the kids!
May 9, 2017
Dowell, Frances O’Roark Sam the Man and the Chicken Plan, 112 pages. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016. $15.99. Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G
Seven year old Sam wants to find a way to make a lot of money, just like his big sister, Annabelle. He thinks he’s too little to do much, until he realizes he can help take care of the neighbor’s chickens while she’s away. He does such a good job, that he decides to save money for his own chicken, which he houses with the neighbor’s chickens. In the meantime, he starts taking an older neighbor on daily walks to see the chickens, and develops a friendship there.
This book started out very slow. The first few chapters seemed like a lot of whining from a seven year old boy, and a, maybe unintentional, lesson on the value of a dollar. As the book progressed, the story did get better. The book is about a third grade reading level, but I don’t think it would appeal to children of that age. It could work for a simple read aloud. It may appeal to someone who raises their own chickens.
EL (K-3)-OPTIONAL. Reviewer: J. Rosskopf
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
Seven year old Sam wants to find a way to make a lot of money, just like his big sister, Annabelle. He thinks he’s too little to do much, until he realizes he can help take care of the neighbor’s chickens while she’s away. He does such a good job, that he decides to save money for his own chicken, which he houses with the neighbor’s chickens. In the meantime, he starts taking an older neighbor on daily walks to see the chickens, and develops a friendship there.
This book started out very slow. The first few chapters seemed like a lot of whining from a seven year old boy, and a, maybe unintentional, lesson on the value of a dollar. As the book progressed, the story did get better. The book is about a third grade reading level, but I don’t think it would appeal to children of that age. It could work for a simple read aloud. It may appeal to someone who raises their own chickens.
EL (K-3)-OPTIONAL. Reviewer: J. Rosskopf
http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017/...
August 28, 2019
Sam is a seven-year-old boy in want of a job. After Mrs. Kerner hires him to take care of her chickens for a few days, Sam decides to go into the chicken business. He borrows money from his father to buy Helga, a chicken that lays blue eggs, and arranges to keep it in Mrs. Kerner’s coop. To repay his father, Sam agrees to walk a grumpy elderly neighbor, Mr. Stockfish, at two dollars a walk. After Sam invites him to watch Helga lay a blue egg, Mr. Stockfish can’t wait to walk to the coop every day. When Sam takes Helga’s first egg to show-and-tell, Mr. Pell, his teacher, demonstrates how to get the egg out without breaking the shell. Between selling blue eggshells to classmates for fifty cents each and walking Mr. Stockfish, it won’t be long before the young entrepreneur can buy another chicken! Pencil sketches add interest to this first book in a new chapter book series for beginning readers.
June 2, 2017
Sam wants a job. Everyone in his family if gainfully employed, including his 12-year-old sister, Annabelle, who mows lawns for "twenty bucks a pop." But there aren't a lot of jobs for a 7-year-old. Then, Mrs. Kerner needs someone to look after her chickens and Sam knows he's the man for the job. And he does a good job ... even camping out at night to protect the chickens from a raccoon.
Now Sam has the bug ... it feels good to be an expert on something. Soon, he has his own chicken (Helga) "boarding" at Mrs. Kerner's coop and he is in need of money again. Maybe his neighbor, Judy, would pay him to take her elderly father, Mr. Stockfish, for a walk. The two bond over their daily walks to see Helga, in hopes she will lay for first blue egg.
A nice little story about responsibility.
Now Sam has the bug ... it feels good to be an expert on something. Soon, he has his own chicken (Helga) "boarding" at Mrs. Kerner's coop and he is in need of money again. Maybe his neighbor, Judy, would pay him to take her elderly father, Mr. Stockfish, for a walk. The two bond over their daily walks to see Helga, in hopes she will lay for first blue egg.
A nice little story about responsibility.
July 16, 2017
Cute first chapter book about seven-year-old's Sam desire to make money and become an expert at something. After helping a neighbor care for her chickens, Sam decides his future lies in becoming a chicken expert. But not just any old chickens - he needs a unique chicken, one who lays blue eggs. Sam has a loving and supportive family and friendly and watchful neighbors. He's got a good teacher and realistic classmates. He's a lucky boy.
The illustrations by Amy June Bates are excellent.
If I were still keeping a list of first chapter books to recommend to second/third graders and their parents, this would definitely be on it.
The illustrations by Amy June Bates are excellent.
If I were still keeping a list of first chapter books to recommend to second/third graders and their parents, this would definitely be on it.
January 23, 2018
gr2-4
Oh my gosh, I love this book. It is a solid first chapter book that is spunkily written and character driven and kids this age will love the fact that Sam comes up with ideas to solve his lack-of-job problem. Nice intergenerational touch with a relationship with a grumpy neighbor. I would love to see more first chapter books like this! I liked it so much I read it again - great book to look at plot structure and character development.
Oh my gosh, I love this book. It is a solid first chapter book that is spunkily written and character driven and kids this age will love the fact that Sam comes up with ideas to solve his lack-of-job problem. Nice intergenerational touch with a relationship with a grumpy neighbor. I would love to see more first chapter books like this! I liked it so much I read it again - great book to look at plot structure and character development.
March 3, 2018
Sam the man needs cash, but being seven really limits his job opportunities. He might be too small to mow lawns, but when his neighbor Mrs. Kerner is looking for someone to watch her six chickens while she is out of town, Sam jumps at the opportunity to get some knowledge about chickens and some cash in hand.
A funny and quiet story about money, neighbors, chickens, and how having a plan is always helpful.
A funny and quiet story about money, neighbors, chickens, and how having a plan is always helpful.
October 2, 2018
A friend of mine happened upon this and gave it to me purely because of the title. And frankly, the title is the best part of this one. It's the first in a sort of sub-Judy Moody series of "chapter books," and doesn't bring much that's new or different to the table. Kids who are into this sort of thing, or who like chickens a WHOLE lot, might appreciate it, but it doesn't have the spark that gives this kind of book a long shelf life.
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October 14, 2020This is the beginning of a sweet and funny series for readers just beginning to read chapter books. Although seemingly set in current day, Sam's innocent neighborhood adventures call back to a simpler time, which feels refreshing, especially these days. His loving family and neighbors give him a safe world to explore. I found myself giggling many times throughout the book and the adorable pencil drawings by Amy June Bates add to the nostalgic feel of the story.
December 9, 2019
4th grader Sam just wants money. When he offers to watch a neighbor's chicken coop, take Mr. Stockfish for a walk, he's hoping the money will come in. But when he eyes a hen that can lay blue eggs, can he juggle all the promises he's made to secure that hen? Funny, endearing story about responsibility and money management.
February 22, 2026
This book was so charming! A nice light read. Perfect for 2nd grade. It's written with humor, a love of community, and an appreciation for the logic of 7 year olds. My favorite part is the friendship that forms between Sam, Mr. Stockfish, and Helga the Chicken; but my favorite scene is when Helga gets loose in the car as they try to drive her home!
December 7, 2018
First in a series about the title character who is actually in one sense not a man but a boy but I guess Roy the Boy doesn't have the same flavour as Sam the Man. Anyway a nice little story told well.
October 8, 2019
Fun early chapter kid detective series. Perfect for fans of Nate the Great, Boxcar Children, or those tired of A-Z Mysteries, etc. Good recommendation for parents who want their kids to read Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys but the kids aren't quite ready. Ages 5+-8
September 17, 2024
I love this book! It’s cute with a great flow. Both my kids enjoyed it while we read it allowed for bedtime. It’s bit young for my 12 year old son but it flowed so nicely he didn’t seem to notice. My daughter, 8, loved it.
May 10, 2017
Sam babysits the neighbor's chickens and decides he'd like one as well.
July 23, 2017
My 8- and 5-year old grandsons both loved this book. I've already gotten the second in the series, Sam the Man and the Rutabaga Plan, and can't wait to share it with them.
August 21, 2017
fun read for younger elementary. I like Sam but found the adults lacked character.
November 12, 2017
Another perfect read for 3-4th graders. Quick, fun, and entertaining especially if you like chickens!
February 25, 2018
Funny, warm story. Both child and adult characters are well drawn.
June 25, 2018
Would recommend: 3.5 stars
June 11, 2019
Frances Dowell is such a talented writer. This is a simple, gentle, quiet read with real heart.
July 1, 2019
Great chapter book for 1st - 3rd grade. I'm eager to read more of Sam's adventures.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews