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World of Nature
Chickens Aren't the Only Ones
Ruth Heller's prose and pictures are the perfect means for discovering the variety of oviparous animals and their unique ways of laying eggs.
"A highly original book, on the improbable subject of eggs...Simple enough for three-year-olds, and complex enough for those considerably older." --The New Yorker
"Bold, bright illustrations complement the informative text...A touch of humor and rhyme leave youngsters with a wealth of information--and an impressive new vocabulary word." --The Mailbox
"A highly original book, on the improbable subject of eggs...Simple enough for three-year-olds, and complex enough for those considerably older." --The New Yorker
"Bold, bright illustrations complement the informative text...A touch of humor and rhyme leave youngsters with a wealth of information--and an impressive new vocabulary word." --The Mailbox
44 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
10 people are currently reading
546 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Heller
127 books47 followersAuthor and illustration with a passionate interest in Korean culture. She lives with her husband in San Francisco, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
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September 18, 2021This book talks about all the different animals who lay eggs. It also talks about who takes care of the egg and how or if the eggs are on their own to survive. It gives details on many different types of animals not just birds or reptiles.
I would use this book in an early elementary science lesson and then have each kid do a report on a different animal that lays eggs
I would use this book in an early elementary science lesson and then have each kid do a report on a different animal that lays eggs
August 10, 2023
Learn all about the classes of animals that lay eggs. It's not just birds. Young children and students who like animals and/or nature will enjoy soaking up the knowledge from this book.
April 10, 2025
This book was a major hit with my library STEM club and my own kids. The illustrations were vibrant (though some are dated) and the information was simple but very informative. We used it mostly to introduce the term “oviparous”.
Engagement was higher than I thought it would be and I want to remember how successful the Easter egg hunt with mammals and oviparous animal pictures went in conjunction with this book.
Engagement was higher than I thought it would be and I want to remember how successful the Easter egg hunt with mammals and oviparous animal pictures went in conjunction with this book.
July 31, 2022
Nice drawing, week text.
May 25, 2018
The wonderful world of eggs.
This book just talks about different kinds of birds that lay eggs, and then mentions reptiles that lay eggs, dinosaurs, amphibians, a bunch of different kinds of fish, and then spiders, insects, and then the two mammals that lay eggs.
The biggest issue that I have with this book is the first few sentences that spread across the first three pages. "CHICKENS laid the eggs you buy, the eggs you boil or fry or dye! or leave alone so you can see what grew inside naturally." No, that's not how you hatch a chicken. You can't hatch a chick from an egg that you buy at the grocery store. There may be stores which sell fertilized eggs, but the eggs at the grocery store are not fertilized, and they are chilled so they certainly won't hatch. If they were fertilized, and you left them with the chicken, they would hatch naturally, and grow a chicken. I don't know why that part is there.
I actually learned some stuff from this book. I wouldn't have assumed necessarily that every single bird lays eggs, but they do. "Dinosaurs who are extinct, but they were reptiles too." That's a case of TV Tropes' "Science Marches On"-- we now know dinosaurs were more like birds. And there actually is one kind of amphibian that has claws (the African clawed frog, according to Wikipedia), but that's not a big deal (although it would have been a neat thing to mention). No other amphibian has claws, and that's a good rule of thumb to tell amphibians from reptiles. I've never heard spiny echidnas called "spiny anteaters," but apparently that's another name for them (one of the famous two egg-laying mammals, the other being the platypus). She also says the ostrich lays the largest egg, and then mentions dinosaurs. I'm going to guess that at least some dinosaurs had eggs larger than ostrich eggs.
But if she's going to bite the bullet and talk about reproduction and having babies, she might as well mention that what we think of as "eggs" are actually shells that contain an egg. Not all eggs have shells, and other animals that don't lay eggs still make eggs internally. She mentions on the last page that "animals who don't lay eggs have babies born alive and well." So, basically, animals that don't lay eggs don't lay eggs. Of course, not all animals bear their young; some starfish, for example, can shed an arm which will grow into a new starfish. And not to be a downer, but not all animal babies are born "alive and well."
Message: Different kinds of animals lay eggs.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
This book just talks about different kinds of birds that lay eggs, and then mentions reptiles that lay eggs, dinosaurs, amphibians, a bunch of different kinds of fish, and then spiders, insects, and then the two mammals that lay eggs.
The biggest issue that I have with this book is the first few sentences that spread across the first three pages. "CHICKENS laid the eggs you buy, the eggs you boil or fry or dye! or leave alone so you can see what grew inside naturally." No, that's not how you hatch a chicken. You can't hatch a chick from an egg that you buy at the grocery store. There may be stores which sell fertilized eggs, but the eggs at the grocery store are not fertilized, and they are chilled so they certainly won't hatch. If they were fertilized, and you left them with the chicken, they would hatch naturally, and grow a chicken. I don't know why that part is there.
I actually learned some stuff from this book. I wouldn't have assumed necessarily that every single bird lays eggs, but they do. "Dinosaurs who are extinct, but they were reptiles too." That's a case of TV Tropes' "Science Marches On"-- we now know dinosaurs were more like birds. And there actually is one kind of amphibian that has claws (the African clawed frog, according to Wikipedia), but that's not a big deal (although it would have been a neat thing to mention). No other amphibian has claws, and that's a good rule of thumb to tell amphibians from reptiles. I've never heard spiny echidnas called "spiny anteaters," but apparently that's another name for them (one of the famous two egg-laying mammals, the other being the platypus). She also says the ostrich lays the largest egg, and then mentions dinosaurs. I'm going to guess that at least some dinosaurs had eggs larger than ostrich eggs.
But if she's going to bite the bullet and talk about reproduction and having babies, she might as well mention that what we think of as "eggs" are actually shells that contain an egg. Not all eggs have shells, and other animals that don't lay eggs still make eggs internally. She mentions on the last page that "animals who don't lay eggs have babies born alive and well." So, basically, animals that don't lay eggs don't lay eggs. Of course, not all animals bear their young; some starfish, for example, can shed an arm which will grow into a new starfish. And not to be a downer, but not all animal babies are born "alive and well."
Message: Different kinds of animals lay eggs.
For more children's book reviews, see my website at http://www.drttmk.com.
October 21, 2016
1. Book summary, in your own words (3 pts)
Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones is a book about all the creatures /animals that lay eggs. From every bird to reptiles to amphibians, etc., this book talks about all that can lay eggs. It also has some nice illustrations showing what the eggs look like.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
This would be a good book for kindergarten to 2nd grade. It is super interesting and easy to read.
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
I could use this book for the students when and if we talk about animals that lay eggs in the classroom. I could also use this book for students to silent read in the class.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
Students interested in animals and learning would like this book.
5. Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
I could use this book in small groups for students to practice reading fluency.
6. Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
I could read this book to the class, but I would probably just have it on the shelf as a fun read.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
8. Multimedia connections (audio books, movie) available (1 pt)
There are a few YouTube videos of people reading this book.
Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones is a book about all the creatures /animals that lay eggs. From every bird to reptiles to amphibians, etc., this book talks about all that can lay eggs. It also has some nice illustrations showing what the eggs look like.
2. Grade level, interest level, lexile (1 pt)
This would be a good book for kindergarten to 2nd grade. It is super interesting and easy to read.
3. Appropriate classroom use (subject area) (1 pt)
I could use this book for the students when and if we talk about animals that lay eggs in the classroom. I could also use this book for students to silent read in the class.
4. Individual students who might benefit from reading (1 pt)
Students interested in animals and learning would like this book.
5. Small group use (literature circles) (1 pt)
I could use this book in small groups for students to practice reading fluency.
6. Whole class use (read aloud) (1 pt)
I could read this book to the class, but I would probably just have it on the shelf as a fun read.
7. Related books in genre/subject or content area (1 pt)
Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
8. Multimedia connections (audio books, movie) available (1 pt)
There are a few YouTube videos of people reading this book.
July 20, 2009
We're discovering Ruth Heller this summer and really enjoying her works. This book in the World of Nature Series is about who lays eggs in the world of nature. The text is fun to read (the rhymes are so clever), the images are so vivid, it's no wonder I don't need to call twice to read her books.
January 27, 2011
Stumbled across this one and love it. Who knew there could be such exquisitely simple, poetic writing (and gorgeous illustrations!) about egg-laying animals?
May 23, 2015
Not to scale.
January 2, 2015
My four year old class enjoyed this book. We did a science experiment with it-floating a hard boiled egg in salt water.
March 29, 2018
Who says books you learn from can't be fun and beautiful? "Chickens Aren't the Only Ones" teaches kids (and adults!) all about all the egg laying animals there are, the eggs they lay, and how they lay them. Starting with the chicken eggs we see in grocery stores, the book expands to all different kinds of birds, reptiles, amphibians, sea creatures, bugs and even monotremes. The pages burst with bold, colorful illustrations that are quite detailed and accurate. Getting to see what a manta ray's egg looks like, or a moonsnail's eggs look like, is exciting. Readers also learn about the role the incipient fathers play in terms of helping with the eggs. There is no universal kind of egg and all the egg experiences are different. If your kid (or you) are interested in the diversity of animals out there, this is a fun and beautiful classic picture book to check out!
May 7, 2021
Weirdly enough, I came across Ruth Heller when I found some of her parts of speech books at the Friends of the Library booksale in Gainesville a few years back. I used the series to teach my ESOL kiddos, and they were just the thing - vibrantly and pleasingly juxtaposed and pictured, with succinct text and definitions in bite-size chunks about various grammar rules and articles. I had no clue what this chicken book would be about, but I recognized the name and it was in the free bin, so I snatched it up. I really like the way this author makes difficult concepts (such as oviparous animals) graspable for kiddos. Cute but informative!
May 26, 2021
Date read May 25, 2021
Genre: informational
Grade Level: 2nd
I think this is a great book to teach about oviparous animals. I think a lot of students probably will not know that word or what it means, so using this book to teach about all the different animals that lay eggs will be very informative to them. I think this would be a fun book to read to the children because they won't be expecting so many of the different animals that the book mentions to lay eggs. Teaching about different animals in this book and what makes them unique or similar would be a great use of this book to coincide with a lesson about animals in science.
Genre: informational
Grade Level: 2nd
I think this is a great book to teach about oviparous animals. I think a lot of students probably will not know that word or what it means, so using this book to teach about all the different animals that lay eggs will be very informative to them. I think this would be a fun book to read to the children because they won't be expecting so many of the different animals that the book mentions to lay eggs. Teaching about different animals in this book and what makes them unique or similar would be a great use of this book to coincide with a lesson about animals in science.
January 20, 2025
The cover doesn't do justice to the vibrant and detailed illustrations in this book. It describes many kinds of creatures, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, dinosaurs, insects, mammals, and sea creatures like stingrays and seahorses. Some details about their biology and their eggs are provided.
The text is rhyming and concise. It often is written
one
word
per
line,
which is kind of an interesting quirk, although it makes it slightly harder to get the rhyming rhythm right. I wonder how a child learning to read would experience that.
It's nearly worthy of 5 stars, but it's not quite interesting enough to me as an adult reader for me to want to read it again and again.
The text is rhyming and concise. It often is written
one
word
per
line,
which is kind of an interesting quirk, although it makes it slightly harder to get the rhyming rhythm right. I wonder how a child learning to read would experience that.
It's nearly worthy of 5 stars, but it's not quite interesting enough to me as an adult reader for me to want to read it again and again.
April 13, 2019
Chickens Aren't the Only Ones is a wonderful nonfiction book that explains to students all other animals that lay eggs besides chickens. Usually, young children think that the only animals that lay eggs are chickens. As an adult, this book taught me about different animals that laid eggs. The illustrations in this book were incredible and it taught kids all about oviparous animals. This would be a great book to teach in a lower elementary level class and there could be a lot of lessons to go along with this book. One unique thing about this book is the pictures and the rhyming in the book.
September 12, 2017
This book introduces readers to a remarkably diverse group of egg-laying animals and explains their unique behavior. Shows eggs in every shape and size in brilliant detail along with the amazing animals that lay them. This book would be great for an informational lesson about animals and eggs. Also, if you were to do a lesson on baby chicks. It's great for those students who are developing cognitively.
August 29, 2018
This turned out to be a fun early reader for us.
I do have to mention that my five year old was a bit incensed about the part where it says that mammals don't lay eggs. I had to explain that mammals don't LAY eggs, but yes, mammals do have eggs inside of them. I loved learning things like "oviparous" and looking at the super cool shark egg. The book is in verse and it made it much easier for my little to read aloud and guess the words. Great book, but a great Author/Illustrator.
I do have to mention that my five year old was a bit incensed about the part where it says that mammals don't lay eggs. I had to explain that mammals don't LAY eggs, but yes, mammals do have eggs inside of them. I loved learning things like "oviparous" and looking at the super cool shark egg. The book is in verse and it made it much easier for my little to read aloud and guess the words. Great book, but a great Author/Illustrator.
August 12, 2017
Ruth Heller does it again, this time teaching about, obviously, animals that lay eggs. I think this would make a great read aloud for second or third graders. It begins simply, with chicken eggs, which is a part of the subject matter that is appropriate for young children, making the connection between our food "eggs" and birds. As the book progresses, the animals become less familiar.
September 12, 2018
I thought this book was exceptionally well done! When students hear about laying eggs, they almost always associate them with chickens. This book lays out that there are many, many other animals that lay eggs. Some include lizards, snakes, ostriches, turtles, fish, and even the spiny anteater. This would be a fabulous book for a lesson on classifying animals or animals that lay eggs.
November 2, 2018
This book is so colorful and fun. Kids learn about all the different animals that lay eggs! It is a very cool book that both kids and adults can learn from! The pictures are so colorful and really help the story come together to form a fun non-fiction book. The book has small rhymes and a poem-like aspect.
April 11, 2019
Kindergarten was doing a lesson on oviparous animals, and this was the perfect book to go along with it. I got lots of "I didn't know they laid eggs" comments from the peanut gallery. We did an animal sort afterwards, and I was so pleased that the kids noticed the book had illustrations and I had real pictures - it gave us another chance to look back into the text and talk about text features.
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September 30, 2021This book is about how Chickens are not the only animals that can lay eggs. It goes on to show all of the different animals that lay eggs too! This book could be used as an activity to talk about all of the different types of animals that lays eggs and even hatch chicks in a classroom using an incubator.
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May 25, 2022This is a book that talks about all the different animals that lay eggs, not just chickens. It opens up the reader's vocabulary to many different animals and classifications of animals. It talks about different birds, reptiles, fish, and spiders. It compares the biggest and smallest eggs and teaches the name that is given to an animal that lays eggs.
November 11, 2024
This book utilizes creative wordplay and repetition, which are common poetic techniques. It also employs rhythmic language and rhymes that make the text enjoyable to read aloud. The nonfiction theme mixed with the poetic form makes it fun to learn about oviparous animals. The vivid illustrations complement the text by visually engaging young readers.
April 5, 2018
This book has bright colorful pictures of many animals and insects that lay eggs. It is educational and would be a good read aloud. It also covers the life cycle and what the inside of a chicken egg looks like.
August 28, 2018
Such a cute story that both my son and I loved. The pages are short and simple with large colorful pictures. I love that there are great animals facts other than just listing off animals that can lay eggs.
November 2, 2018
This book is about all the different animals and insects that lay eggs. It is a great way for children to understand that chickens aren't the only ones who lay eggs. It also introduces a new vocabulary word at the end of the book.
November 6, 2018
Chickens Aren't the Only Ones is a book about animals that lay eggs. The book shows different animals and also explains that even though all animals lay eggs, they are all different. This book is great at teaching children grades kind garden - 2nd grade.
October 13, 2022
A great intro to egg laying creatures for preschool and elementary aged kids. Rhyming non-fiction is tough to do well and this is a great example of it. The rhymes work and the text still makes sense.
October 8, 2017
Informative but not dry. Great illustrations too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews