Chicks and Salsa

Booktalk:

Chicken Feed! Do you know what chicken feed is made out of? Chicken feed is dried corn, roasted soybeans, oats and other not so exciting dry ingredients. Chicken feed is dry, crunchy, and did I mention dry? How would feel eating this same recipe day after day?

Chicken Feed is the only choice on the menu for the chickens at Nuthatcher's farm. It's a farm just like any other, with a barn, farm animals and the daily routine of farming chores. But the chickens on Farmer Nuthatcher's farm are complaining about the lack of variety in their daily meals. They are tired of eating the same old chicken feed every single day. They want to spice up their diet and they want something new to eat.

The Rooster, who as everyone knows is the leader of the chickens, has been spying on the Farmer's wife. She spends time watching the cooking channel and this gives rooster a great idea! Why not spice up their meals a bit! Before you know it the rooster and the chickens are stealing vegetables from the Farmer's garden to add a little something tasty to their plate. One thing leads to another and soon the ducks are mumbling, and the pigs are rumbling, and all the farm animals are in on the culinary quest to spice up life!

Then a discovery is made:

"The scallions had been stolen!
The peppers had been pilfered!
The limes had been lifted!"

This change in cuisine is too good to be true. Will the Farmer notice that his garden has been robbed? Will the Farmer's wife be enticed by the savory smells coming from the barn? What will happen when all the animals get together and bring their snacks?

Author Aaron Reynolds has written a story that will tickle you with humorous personification of hungry farm animals. Illustrator Paulette Bogan uses vivid primary colors to liven up the typical barn yard neutral colors - the animals, their decorations and their recipes. Chicks and Salsa is so tantalizing to readers that they won't be able to resist trying the recipes for themselves.

Curriculum Connections:

After reading the book in the library or classroom, students can discuss some of these questions: What vegetable would you pick from the garden? What recipe or dish would you make with the vegetable you choose? What kind of food would you eat at a fiesta? Why do we have fiestas? What are some of the things that your family celebrates? What are family foods that you usually make at your fiestas?

For a follow-up activity, link to the torn paper collage vegetables in the lesson plan.

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