Chicken Man

by Michelle Edwards

Book Overview

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award

Rody is in charge of the chicken coop on the kibbutz where he lives in Israel's Jezreel Valley. He loves his job so much and makes the work seem so delightful that everyone wants a chance to tend the brood. When they do, Rody is transferred elsewhere. But as Rody moves from job to job, the kibbutz learns it's not what you do, but how you do it that makes a difference.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1588382370
• ISBN13: 9781588382375
• Release Date: March 2009
• Publisher: NewSouth Books
• Length: 32 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 7.6" x 9.7"
• Age Range: 5 to 8 years
• Grade Range: Preschool to Grade 3

Customer Reviews

Rutgers University Project on Economics and Children

Rody, who lived and worked on an Israeli kibbutz, had such a happy demeanor it proved to be contagious. When he worked in the chicken coop, his cheerful ways and constant singing caused the chickens to lay more eggs. Others on the kibbutz noticed the productive chickens and pleasant atmosphere, so they assumed that tending the chicken coop must be the best job in the work rotation. Yet Rody had an equally positive attitude and spirited singing repertoire while washing and ironing the laundry, thus making that job appear more desirable to the other kibbutz residents. Although Rody did not seem to mind rotating through the job list, the chickens certainly minded and ceased laying eggs. How would they see their Chicken Man again if everyone else kept taking his job? Michelle Edwards' beloved tale, reissued in this new edition with an updated note about kibbutz life, makes an excellent vehicle for talking to children about a number of concepts in economics, including jobs, human and natural resources, interdependence, and productivity. Children will gain exposure to some serious lessons while enjoying an amusing story and lively art work.

One of My Son's Favorite

We received our first copy through the PJ Library program. It quickly became one of my son's (and mine) favorite books. While I think it is a great introduction to life in the Kibbutzim, my son thinks the chickens are hilarious. Since then, I had purchased several copies for his pre-school.

A positive message enthusiastically recommended to young readers of all backgrounds.

First published in 1991, and now in a new edition with an updated 2007 afterword from the author, Chicken Man is a classic National Jewish Book Awards Winner picturebook about a man who lives and works on a kibbutz (a special type of farm in Israel). Chicken man loves the chickens of his chicken coop more than anything, and he's so happy taking care of them everyone becomes convinced he has the best job on the kibbutz. When a new work list is posted, he must change jobs and work at the laundry instead - leaving his chickens wasn't easy, but he resolved to do his best and sing while he worked; this leads everyone to think that laundry is the best job on the kibbutz, and his duty is changed to gardening. But when the chickens stop producing eggs because they were deprived of their favorite keeper, the kibbutz learns that it's the person who does the job that makes the biggest difference, and Chicken Man is reunited with his beloved chickens. The new afterword briefly reflects on how kibbutzes have changed in the modern era (children's houses or work lists are generally not found within them anymore). But the central theme of Chicken Man, the value of making the best of every situation, is a positive message enthusiastically recommended to young readers of all backgrounds.

A positive message enthusiastically recommended to young readers of all backgrounds.

Imaginatively written and delightfully illustrated by Michelle Edwards, "Chicken Man" is a third edition release of a classic children's tale about a chronically cheerful kibbutz worker in Israel named Rody who became known to all as Chicken Man. Rody sang to the chickens and brought them special vegetable and flower treats. He loved the chickens and they lay extra eggs when he worked with them. In those days, perhaps 30 or more years ago, all the kibbutz workers rotated through the jobs, so that no one stayed assigned on any one job for long. Because Rody is so cheerful and sings happily wherever he works, other workers ask to be assigned to his jobs because he seems to enjoy his work so much. But Rody will always love his chickens the best. So Rody works in the laundry, in the garden, and in Baal-a-gan, the wildest children's cottage in the whole kibbutz! He keeps visiting his chickens when he can, and he notices they do not seem as happy. In fact, they finally stop laying eggs and precipitate a crisis. The result is, Rody is permanently reassigned to care for the chickens, because only Chicken Man can keep the chickens truly happy, and only truly contented chickens will keep producing lots of eggs! Humorous colored illustrations add to the bouncing tale telling of "Chicken Man," a national Jewish Book Awards Winner from the Jewish Book Council that will continue to appeal to children age 6-11 everywhere.

A Charming Tale - with a Moral

"Chicken Man" weaves a delightful tale about members of an Israeli kibbutz, all of whom wish they could switch jobs with "Chicken Man." Why? Because, no matter what his job assignment, he is always happy. Everyone - including the reader - learns that Chicken Man's jobs are far from ideal. His attitude, however, always is. And that makes all the difference. My lectures and workshops for kids and adults convey this message, one that we are never too young to learn. Hats off to Michelle Edwards!