Chicken, Pig, Cow

Chicken, Pig, Cow

by Ruth Ohi

Pig, Chicken and Cow love the warm and cozy barn Girl made for them out of Popsicle® sticks. Even though Girl forgot to make a door, the three toy animals think their home is perfect. The only thing that isn’t perfect is Dog. He lives outside, but his drool makes it feel as if it’s raining in the barn. One day, Pig and Chicken decide to go exploring, leaving Cow behind. Before long, Cow hears a drooly, snorty sort of sound, followed by a crash as the barn tips over. Dog is very big, and Cow is terrified—but she really has nothing to fear. All Dog wants to do is play, as Pig and Chicken discover during a daring rescue. Dog becomes a friend. Best of all, now that two sticks have been knocked free, their barn is indeed perfect—front door and all. With her trademark economy of words and expressive characters, Ruth Ohi has created a refreshing, toddler-friendly story about making friends.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Dogs, Friendship, Storytime, Canada

32 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2008

About the author

Ruth is the illustrator of over 50 books, including 15 of which she also wrote. She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design.

Her books have been selected for the Pennsylvania Centre for the Book's “Baker’s Dozen”, the Canadian Toy Testing Council's "Great Books", the Ontario Library Association's "Best Bets", and the Toronto Public Library's "First & Best". They have been shortlisted for awards such as the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book, Amelia Francis Howard-Gibbons , Mr. Christie, and Blue Spruce.

Plenty of pdf printables can found on her website. Printables include puppets, games and creative handouts for her latest books.

A favourite part of her job is hosting workshops where young people get as excited about creating their own visual stories as she does.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a keeper for my two-year old and me. I'd like to add this one to our permanent collection. It is clever and simple with charming illustrations. I especially like "drooly, snorty Dog," who terrorizes Chicken, Pig and Cow.

[Lagobond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my heart! How cute is this simple little story. Pig, Chicken, and Cow are three friends who are quite literally expanding their horizons, with a little unexpected help from the goofy, slobbery family dog.

The book's message of how being brave can pay off is delivered in a subtle, friendly style. The illustrations are hilarious and spot-on in their simplicity. It is obvious that illustrator Ruth Ohi gave loving attention to details like Cow's fainting episode and Dog's constant drooling.

I can't express in words just how much I love this little gem.

[Kathrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is harder than it seems, but it is so fun to read. The wording and pictures are funny and the kids seem to love it. This book was slightly hard to follow, like the words are chopped up and scattered on the page along with their pictures next to them. Depending on how someone reads, this can be easier for them to follow. The words are for a higher level of reading, which is cool. Love this book

[FM Family · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta give all these Chicken, Pig Cow books 4 stars because my 3.5 year old LOVES them. Nothing much happens but they’re cute and sometimes something just resonates for a kid, right?

Cute series about three friends getting into various mild adventures in and out of the house. This was the first in the series which explained a lot of things we’d been wondering about having started midway, like what are chicken pig and cow and what was the deal with dog and the barn.

[Mommooshka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful story for toddlers. My granddaughter and I especially love cow. If your library offers Tumble Books, be sure to view their lightly animated and narrated version of this book - it's adorable!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A girl makes little animal figurines and puts them in a popsicle stick barn without a door. When the family dog comes by and knocks the barn over, the chicken and pig attempt to distract the dog from the cow.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine you are a toy chicken, pig or cow. Are you tired of living in your popsicle stick home? See what happens when real dog comes to play. Great for early literacy and sequencing. It will be read again and again by your preschooler. Ruth's fun illustrations are awesome.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first story about Chicken, Pig, and Cow. It's a very cute story, easy for beginning readers, and is a fun story of how Dog became accepted as their friend.

[Tracy Schillemore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chicken, pig and cow are toys that live in a popsicle stick barn. They try to go on an adventure and meet my favourite character...dog.

[Abbey Pignatari · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 (audiobook)

This book had fun characters that kids (should) enjoy. The plot was light and engaging, and the story was easy to follow. Overall, this was a cute, simple book for early readers.

[Eddie Garcia]

this book takes you on a little adventure between 3 friends and a dog

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable pictures! This is a good book for toddlers and preschoolers. Although I will be using it in a storytime setting, Chicken, Pig, Cow is great for caregiver to child reading.

[Sandra Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story about how you are lovable just as you are and .... it's more comfortable to just be you anyway.

[Peyton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute. It is a typical children's book. I liked the illustrations.

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

This quintessential picture book by long time writer and illustrator Ruth Ohi is about creating, playing and the power of imagination. Girl is the creator of little clay animals, who live in a doorless Popsicle-stick barn. Sometimes Girl plays with the toys; that is when they have a chance to be outside of their box. But when Girl is not there, the toy animals come alive. As we turn the pages of the book, the reader embarks on an imaginary adventure with the clearly created characters of Chicken, Pig and Cow, who want to go beyond their set boundaries. But wait, outside there is also Dog, no doubt a real character in the life of the creator (Girl). Dog is drooly, playful, big and… unpredictable. How will the little clay animals fare in the face of danger (Dog)? The ability to engage in an adventure with toys is a theme well known in children’s literature. Ruth Ohi offers a fresh approach, in the angle of the illustrations, the perspective of the composition, the way in which the child in the book and the child-reader become one as the story unfolds. Simple language and a straightforward narrative make this story very appealing to a young child. Profound in its simplicity, this story has it all: a dab of magic, a spirit of adventure, suspense, resolution and a comforting and satisfying end.

Reviewed by Mariella Bertelli in Canadian Children's Book News
Fall 2008 VOL.31 NO.4

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chicken, Pig, and Cow are three clay animals made by Girl, and live in a Popsicle-stick barn (also made by Girl). However, Girl forgot to make them a door, and one day they felt like exploring. While Pig and Chicken were able to climb onto Cow's back to get out, Cow was left behind in the barn...until along came Dog. Although they were afraid of Dog, it turns out Dog is their friend (and even accidentally gave them a door to the barn). A simple picture book with sweet illustrations. I love it when books depict how children still use their imaginations to make homemade crafts and toys to play with.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm surprised I haven't read the first of their adventures. It seemed familiar, but then it didn't. Hmmm. Oh well. Getting around to it now. The stories are simple and the illustrations are adorable. I love them. They aren't earth-shattering or classics. But they're fabulous to me. And works really well for storytime. Lap reads and read alones are good as well. Any child who has toys can enjoy.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are so cute, and the story is really fun, but it's all resolved a bit quickly for me. Where's the big moment of revelation? I may be asking too much. Still, overall really enjoyable.

[Pam Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple story and illustrations, yet a huge hit with my nearly 4 year old son. He wants to read about chicken, pig, cow and their popsicle stick barn nearly every night before bed. Definitely a new favourite in our house!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the simplicity of this! Chicken, Pig, and Cow are all clay figures made by Girl. I love that it's relate-able for all kinds of kids but there are little nods to the adults reading the book aloud. ("Then Dog lay down, wrapping himself around Cow. Cow fainted.") Yay, Ruth Ohi!

[Nichole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really easy for toddlers to understand. My son understands what I'm reading and he's 22 months old.

[Tina B · Rating 2 out of 5]

farm animals, toys, doors, dogs

[Sarah Gingerich · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite children's book. I picked it up for my 1 year old son on a whim and loved it at first sight. Try this one, you'll love it too.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

What kid doesn't imagine their toys have a life of their own? A charming little book!

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute addition to my chicken story time. The kids seemed to enjoy the story. Simple, short text and great illustrations make this good for a variety of ages--toddler to preschool.

[Iamaby En · Rating 3 out of 5]

-more cute than funny, but simple enough that it can be read to toddlers
-illustrations are very cute

[Cat. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Basic, but cute.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 The illustrations are sooo cute!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book Becky got with her Kinderstart Program and animals/Popsicle sticks to act out the story!

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorably sweet watercolor illustrations.
Very sweet story about three toy animal friends who live in a popsicle stick barn. :)