This is a wolf story without any horribly, awful characters. In fact, the story is built on the love three sisters have for each other that overlooks each others’ flaws. Violet loves to bake but she burns everything and stinks up the neighborhood. Poppy loves to knit but the items she gives away are scratchy. Baba loves to sing but she’s always off key. The sisters graciously receive each others’ gifts with lots of appreciation and no complaints.
The Sisters Make Peace With the Neighbors
But the neighbors aren’t happy. They get together to think about how they can stop the sisters from baking, knitting and singing. Before they’re ready to make their formal complaint a mischievous wolf moves into the neighborhood. The neighbors now turn their attention to the wolf problem. The sisters however don’t see the wolf as a big problem and the story ends with the sisters and neighbors working together to move the wolf along.
The Story Plays With Human Nature
It’s not hard to see a little of oneself in each of these delicately illustrated characters; both in the loving acceptance by the sisters of each others’ flaws and in the complaining ways of the neighbors. The story offers a gentle, humorous picture to children of how people can behave toward each other.
Laura Numeroff's Stories are Translated Around the Word
Laura Numeroff has written many books for children and is author of the very popular story If You Give A Mouse A Cookie and its sequels, If You Give a Moose A Muffin and If You Give A Pig A Pancake. Laura’s books are read by children all over the world and many of them are translated into different languages. A complete list of Laura’s books can be found on her website.
Laura’s website offers some interesting stuff including her bio and pages for parents and teachers. A very cool area is “If You Give A Writer A Penci” where she offers some creative ideas to get kids writing.
Sharleen Collicott did the illustrations in The Chicken Sisters. These pictures are so much fun, enriching the story with detail and action. The characters come alive with her beguiling illustrations of chickens, mice and bunnies showing human like expressions. Sharleen has illustrated several more children’s picture books, including Toestamper and the Caterpillars, a story that she also wrote.
A Fun and Insightful Read
The Chicken Sisters is a good read for both the kids and mom or dad. It’s the kind of story that leaves a person thinking long after the book is back on the shelf. The Chicken Sisters was published by Harper Collins, 1997.
Clara Lovatt - Clara’s passion is to provide quality child care where young children can grow and be happy in healthy, loving environments. She ...
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