Chicken Man
Hardcover Edition (also available in paperback)
Written and illustrated by Michelle Edwards
NewSouth Books
978-1-58838-223-8
$16.95 hardcover (click here to view or purchase the paperback edition)
7 ¾ x 10
32 pages, color illustrations throughout
Published in 2007 by NewSouth Books (First edition 1991, Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books; Second Edition 1994, Mulberry Books)
Children/Young Adult, Cultural Heritage
The Summer that Rody worked in the kibbutz chicken coop, the hens laid more eggs than ever before and the roosters strutted and crowed as if they were the happiest in all of Israel. That’s when the kibbutz started calling Rody “Chicken Man.”
Chicken Man was very happy working in the chicken coop. So happy, in fact, that everyone thought taking care of chickens must be the best job on the kibbutz. And so when the new work list was posted, Bracha got a turn in the chicken coop and Chicken Man was sent to the laundry.
It wasn’t easy trading his chickens for a washing machine, but Chicken Man made the best of it. Every day, he sang while he worked. Soon everyone began to think that working in the laundry must be the best job on the kibbutz. And so when the next new work list was posted, Dov got a turn in the laundry and Chicken Man became the gardener.
And so it went. Chicken Man kept moving from one job to another, missing his chickens more each day, but always working hard and enjoying whatever he did. The chickens grew sadder and sadder without their Chicken Man—until one day there was trouble in the chicken coop and the kibbutz learned that it’s not the job but the person who does it that makes the difference.
Chicken Man was the winner of the 1992 National Jewish Book Award, with delightful illustrations by author Michelle Edwards. This reissued edition includes an updated afterword by the author, discussing modern changes in kibbutz life. |