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Three Hens and a Peacock Paperback – Picture Book, February 4, 2014

by Lester L. Laminack (Author), Henry Cole (Illustrator)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 555 ratings
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A hilarious read-aloud favorite about some foolish farm animals who decide to trade roles—and discover just how hard it is to do someone else's job, from award-winning author Lester L. Laminack and celebrated illustrator Henry Cole.

The Tuckers' farm is a peaceful place where everyone has a job and no one complains. That is, until a hapless peacock falls off the back of a passing truck and stirs things up. Soon, customers are flocking to the farm to see what all the fuss is about. But the hens don't like the newcomer getting attention while they do all the hard work. When a wise old hound sees the problem, he helps orchestrate a job swap.

What follows is the riotous tale of three hens who get in way over their feathered heads, and one very distressed peacock who just can't figure out how to lay an egg.

Lester L. Laminack has created a comical look at envy, finding your strength, and what happens when we underestimate the value of others' work. Henry Cole's delightful illustrations heighten the story's humor and will have readers of all ages laughing out loud.
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  1. Reading age
    3 - 7 years, from customers
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Lexile measure
    AD590L
  6. Dimensions
    9.48 x 0.13 x 10.97 inches
  7. Publisher
    Peachtree
  8. Publication date
    February 4, 2014
  9. ISBN-10
    1561457264
  10. ISBN-13
    978-1561457267
  11. See all details
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  1. Three Hens, a Peacock, and the Enormous Egg
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Laminack's storytelling is brisk, and Cole's cartoon illustrations are vivid and comical"—Booklist

"What might have been an ordinary be-yourself story is enhanced by Laminack's (Snow Day!) surprisingly thoughtful storytelling. . . Laminack characterizes the hens with a fine ear for their Golden Girls outrage. . . the illustrations go for big guffaws and slapstick instead, and largely succeed. . . effectively keeping the book from feeling message-heavy."—Publishers Weekly

"Frenetically posing chickens will inspire giggles. . . Good farm fun."—Kirkus Reviews

"A delightful choice for schools and public libraries"—School Library Journal

About the Author

Lester L. Laminack is a specialist in children's literacy and professor emeritus at Western Carolina University. Laminack has written numerous books and articles for educators in addition to his picture books, and he is a sought-after speaker at professional meetings and reading associations nationwide. He lives in North Carolina.

Henry Cole has published almost 150 books for children, including those he has both written and illustrated, including Homer on the Case and The Somewhat True Adventures of Sammy Shine, and those he has illustrated, including bestsellers such as And Tango Makes Three and books by Julie Andrews Edwards and Harvey Fierstein. A former fourth grade science teacher who grew up on a farm, he is a popular presenter who dazzles audiences of all ages.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Peachtree; Reprint edition (February 4, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1561457264
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1561457267
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7 years, from customers
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD590L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.48 x 0.13 x 10.97 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 555 ratings

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
555 global ratings
Books arrived damaged but wonderful story
5 Stars
Books arrived damaged but wonderful story
The book is wonderful and children will learn it’s ok to just be yourself. However, both books arrived damaged. I’m giving as Christmas gifts so I am disappointed. It appears the box was smushed which caused damage to the bottom corner of both books.
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Top reviews from the United States

JayandJenni
5.0 out of 5 stars silly and fun
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2019
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This book is utterly silly, and my children love it. The illustrations are fun, the characters are ridiculous, and did I mention the illustrations are fun?

I read the negative reviews about stereotypes, and I disagree - respectfully, of course, because I appreciate people with convictions (truly). It is just that we have chickens, and the point of having them (well, besides the fact that we have gotten a little weird and gone gaga over them) is that they lay us eggs. This isn't because we see them as females who must be kept in their hen house laying eggs. It is because they are female, and that is what they do, and if they don't lay their eggs, they actually get egg bound and die. We don't have a peacock, but we'd kind of like to, and if we did, we'd admire him regularly and hope all of our neighbors did, too. This isn't because he is a male and worthy of more admiration than females. It is because he has been endowed by his Creator with some super cool plumage that is fun to look at. I have boys and girls, ages 3-9, and I don't think any of them feel limited or entitled because of 3 hens and a peacock - not even subconsciously. When I read it to them, their creative juices flow, and they start trying to make fun art and imagine silly voices for the ridiculous characters.

That said, while there is a "bloom where you're planted" kind of message, I am not sure it really sinks in, so my recommendation is based on silly fun rather than any depth. Maybe the message is so obvious that it isn't worth them noting out loud, but it does seem the point of the book in my house is all the silly stuff.
15 people found this helpful
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MadsMom
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVED by my 4 year old daughter!!!
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014
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As soon as she got this book as part of the Valentine she had to read it! She loved the illustrations and the story kept her attention. She loves books with farm animals and chickens since we live on a farm. This was a unique chicken story for sure! In addition to her enjoying the book, the message is a great one! Be happy with what you have because the grass isn't always greener on the other side! Along with this book she got a peacock stuffed toy which she enjoys to hold while we read.
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Paul W. Hankins
5.0 out of 5 stars THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK: Look again, reader friends. . .
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2012
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***This is a cross post from a Goodreads review I have done for THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK***

I've enjoyed THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK when it first released in 2011, but I wanted to look at the book again after reading some Amazon reviews that I thought were not only misguided but unfair to the collective work that Lester Laminack has been doing. With full disclosure, Lester is someone I consider a mentor--a friend, if you will--and you could hold me to a certain amount of bias in writing a review that not only serves as a response to other reviews but as another way of looking at a picture book that is probably most transparent in its message. And while those looking to see something in THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK are few (and as few as the other contributions they have made to the Amazon or the overall reading community found within the social media platforms), the negative reviews of THE HENS AND A PEACOCK are misinformed. As Amazon has not its way clear to remove these reviews, those who have enjoyed and have used Laminack's title should respond and return to the praise that began the thread of reviews here at Amazon. At Goodreads, I see nothing but praise for Laminack's work.

Lester Laminack has worked tirelessly to provide resources to elementary, middle, and secondary teachers with his professional development texts. I'm proud to say that I have all of these in Room 407. I am really looking forward to seeing Lester's new work with the subject of bullying that is due to release in the fall of 2012. If one were to spend a moment with Lester or hear him deliver a keynote address, they would quickly find that likening THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK to "poison" is as insipid as referencing Virginia Lee Burton's THE LITTLE HOUSE as an early comment on the Occupy Movement or Russell Hoban's BREAD AND JAM FOR FRANCIS as an attempt to suggest, subliminally, a mandate regarding--pre-Mayor Bloomberg--dietary intake of a community. We can find these ludicrous interpretations because "deep readers" can find multiple lenses through which to look into a book or a story.

THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK demonstrates how words and images come together to create a sense of comic timing. The first example of this approach is when we first see the peacock standing alone on the page under the arched words ". . .that peacock showed up." Another example, with the hens as feature, finds the three stacked on top of one another doing their very best to attract the attention of the cars passing by. What we really have--for secondary readers in a writer's workshop model--is an example of the classic comparison and contrast set-up. This one does this, while the other does that. Helping younger readers think about author/illustrator intent and design (as well as drawing inferences), lead learners may ask students to consider when characters appear on the page by themselves. Readers may be invited to think about why the author and illustrator decided upon this approach.

The peacock's job looks so easy. The hens make the comment that they do all of the work. It's the wisdom of the hound dog (and here too is another lesson in use and design--ask younger readers why those words are italicized in what the hound dog says) that brings both parties to a deeper understanding of personal and collective contribution. I've worked with two gifted and talented students over the past two years who have been "tagged" by their peers as being "perfect" and as doing everything "perfectly." Listening in from outside the fishbowl, it was often difficult to determine when a comment that might look like praise on paper became a sort of attack when the words hit the air. A kind of bullying we might be missing is when students use praise in a sort of attempt to either one, find comfort with their own level of performance, and, two, attempt to level the playing field by clipping the feathers of another. I can tell you from what I observed of these two young ladies over the past two years, that their position of "perfect" was not something they had selected for themselves nor was it a comfortable position in which to find themselves. The continual pushing and pulling upon these two has been the best instance of tenacity I have seen a student exhibit in my experiences.

Lester Laminack encourages readers with THREE HENS AND A PEACOCK to consider not only the perceived strengths of others in a group, but to celebrate their own contribution to the daily successes of a community. It's very easy to undersell our own talents and contributions sometimes, but learning communities that continue to promote group work and synthesis are what I consider to be the best approach to helping students to see the value of their own contribution. This is the reflection piece that needs to be a part of any group project or small group meeting. These reflection pieces help to put words to these feelings that often go unspoken. This is an important lesson within learning communities. Each student must feel that they have something to offer to the overall community. This is probably where classroom management breaks down the most.

For secondary readers, look to the archetypes within the book vs. the anthropomorphism. One of the qualities of anthropomorphism and personification is that the archetypes are presented in a package that is removed from our "human-ness," so that we can see how these operate without our own intrusions. When a peacock is dropped off at Tucker Farm, we see the classic "Innocent/Orphan" archetype in action. The Hens give us the classic presentation of "Creator/Destroyer" traits. The hound dog given to moments of great wisdom coupled with moments of leisure and repose present the "Sage/Fool" pairing. Now. See? I am doing the same thing that the reviews I am responding to have done. . .but this is the point: we can see what we want to see, but in the end, Lester Laminack's body of work and ideals don't seem to warrant the claims of other reviews that wish to reduce his work to something meant to mislead younger readers.
22 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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AC
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful gift for kids
Reviewed in India on December 21, 2022
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I'd purchased this book way back as a gift because the child was a fan of peacocks. It's quality is excellent and the book itself is quite fun. It's a recommended buy on my end for kids.
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Anacleta Piruleta
5.0 out of 5 stars D lo mejorcito que he encontrado últimamente
Reviewed in Spain on April 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Chulísimo para aprender a valorar el trabajo de los demás y el darle valor también al trabajo propio.
También es una lección de humildad para aceptar con alegría nuestras limitaciones y echar un poco el freno a nuestra autoexigencia desmedida y nuestros sueños poco realistas.
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Nance
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully illustrated hard cover book
Reviewed in Canada on April 30, 2017
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Beautifully illustrated hard cover book. It's a great story with many life lessons about respect for the contributions of others, and of being proud of what you do. The writing is amusing and flows well. I bought this as a gift, along with Aurora plush toys of the main characters. The reviews on Amazon.com state that Three Hens and a Peacock is beloved by children of all ages. Hopefully, it should keep the parents' brains from atrophying when they read this over and over again to their little one.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Text overlapped graphics
Reviewed in Australia on August 12, 2019
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This is a lovely little story with some delightful graphics adding detail to the narrative. Unfortunately, in some places, in the Kindle edition, the text is on top of a graphic, thereby making it hard to read.
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b carter
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2015
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very funny
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