missprint_'s review against another edition
4.0
I wasn’t sure about the book when it was foisted upon me by one of the children’s librarians. Chickens . . . they don’t seem that interesting. This is not the case for 266 pound chickens like Henrietta.
Arthur brings Henrietta home on Thanksgiving having failed to procure a turkey (or duck, or normal sized chicken) for his family’s holiday dinner. But, upon meeting Henrietta, the family decides she might be more pet than poultry. Chaos ensues, however, when Henrietta gets loose.
It’s a cute story and a quick read. The characters created by Daniel Pinkwater (and illustrated by his wife Jill) are memorable and lots of fun. I also really liked the message of the story, which overtly is that “Chickens need love too” but is also just a call for tolerance–something that can never be stated enough. Pinkwater originally wrote this book in the 1970s and I’m pretty confident it will continue to be a favorite for years to come.
Arthur brings Henrietta home on Thanksgiving having failed to procure a turkey (or duck, or normal sized chicken) for his family’s holiday dinner. But, upon meeting Henrietta, the family decides she might be more pet than poultry. Chaos ensues, however, when Henrietta gets loose.
It’s a cute story and a quick read. The characters created by Daniel Pinkwater (and illustrated by his wife Jill) are memorable and lots of fun. I also really liked the message of the story, which overtly is that “Chickens need love too” but is also just a call for tolerance–something that can never be stated enough. Pinkwater originally wrote this book in the 1970s and I’m pretty confident it will continue to be a favorite for years to come.
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
5.0
Still great (re-read) but what else would you expect when you have Pinkwater and a 266 pound chicken, Hoboken and a Professor named Mazzocchi and his great chicken system invention. Hijinks ensure.
beecheralyson's review against another edition
4.0
I admire any writer who can write humor for elementary age students. You have to have just the right combination of making it seem real and funny without going too far over the edge. Pinkwater does a great job with this book. Funny, touching, and just an enjoyable little book. Great for girls or boys though boys might appreciate it more. Also really more for 7 to 9 year olds than 9 to 12 year olds. I would also recommend it for reluctant readers.
The book is basically a tale of friendship between a boy named Arthur and a 266 lb. 6 foot tall chicken named Henrietta. When Henrietta gets separated from Arthur and does on a rampage, Arthur has to figure out how to get her back.
The book is basically a tale of friendship between a boy named Arthur and a 266 lb. 6 foot tall chicken named Henrietta. When Henrietta gets separated from Arthur and does on a rampage, Arthur has to figure out how to get her back.
everemmareads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
robinfowl's review against another edition
3.0
I have fond childhood memories of this book and enjoyed reading it out loud to my kids-- but the feminist in me had to "gloss" some of it as I read. It's not just that it would fail the Bechdel test-- only female characters are his mom and the chicken. It's more that the city council, nameless/faceless folks, can still be addressed as "gentlemen." It's probably good for me to realize that it's not *that* long ago that it was unimaginable to have a woman in local government-- but it's not like kiddos are reading this and thinking about the historical context. The book reads mostly like it's in-the-present, and I kind of wish it were updated very mildly to reflect that.
crystabrittany's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable, silly. A nice view of a multi-cultural urban neighborhood.
aizaksonas's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
corncobwebs's review against another edition
Arthur Bobowicz is instructed by his mother to pick up the family's Thanksgiving turkey. But the butcher lost Mrs. Bobowicz's order, and has no extra turkeys to spare. Arthur trudges around Hoboken, first trying to find a turkey, and then trying to find ANY kind of bird his family could eat for Thanksgiving. Almost ready to give up, Arthur stumbles upon a sign on an apartment door advertising chickens for sale. Arthur thinks it must be some kind of shady meat vendor, but he's desperate. When he enters the apartment, he realizes that it belongs to a mad scientist, and that the chickens for sale aren't ordinary chickens - they're huge mutant chickens. The scientist convinces Arthur to buy Henrietta, a 266-pound mass of poultry. It doesn't take Arthur long to realize that, though she's huge, she's also incredibly sweet and docile. He quickly develops a soft spot for her, and by the time he returns home he's prepared to ask his family if they can keep her as a pet rather than eat her for Thanksgiving dinner. His father acquiesces, the family has meatloaf for Thanksgiving, and Arthur has a giant chicken for a pet.
All goes well for a while - Arthur teaches Henrietta tricks, and she sleeps by his bed every night. But when she causes the slightest disturbance in the Bobowicz house, Mr. Bobowicz insists that Arthur must take her back to where she came from. But when the scientist refuses, Henrietta grabs an opportunity to escape, running pell-mell through the streets of Hoboken. Now a 266 pound chicken is on the loose, and people are terrified. They don't realize that Henrietta is harmless; they're just afraid of what they don't know, and treat her horribly as a result of their fear and ignorance. The unkindness makes Henrietta into a surly menace, and she stomps around Hoboken destroying property and terrifying anyone who crosses her path. Will Arthur be able to get back the sweet Henrietta he knows and loves?
Very funny story that's a great metaphor for how irrational fear can make people do stupid things. I think there's a lot of irrational fear and mistrust in the world today that's the result of ignorance. While silly, this book sends the message that treating everyone with kindness and respect can go a long way in abating that fear and mistrust. An important message for anyone of any age, at any point in history.
All goes well for a while - Arthur teaches Henrietta tricks, and she sleeps by his bed every night. But when she causes the slightest disturbance in the Bobowicz house, Mr. Bobowicz insists that Arthur must take her back to where she came from. But when the scientist refuses, Henrietta grabs an opportunity to escape, running pell-mell through the streets of Hoboken. Now a 266 pound chicken is on the loose, and people are terrified. They don't realize that Henrietta is harmless; they're just afraid of what they don't know, and treat her horribly as a result of their fear and ignorance. The unkindness makes Henrietta into a surly menace, and she stomps around Hoboken destroying property and terrifying anyone who crosses her path. Will Arthur be able to get back the sweet Henrietta he knows and loves?
Very funny story that's a great metaphor for how irrational fear can make people do stupid things. I think there's a lot of irrational fear and mistrust in the world today that's the result of ignorance. While silly, this book sends the message that treating everyone with kindness and respect can go a long way in abating that fear and mistrust. An important message for anyone of any age, at any point in history.
deannah's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun book to read aloud during Thanksgiving. The kids chuckled and enjoyed the illustrations.
lcline1981's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0