The Chicken Squad Inspired Reading list

Last week, we launched our first official Budding Readers book club group and for our first book the kids enjoyed The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure by Doreen Cronin. For each meeting, to help extend the kids' learning and reading interests, we have curated a reading list inspired by the book they read. Some themes from The Chicken Squad include teamwork, family, friendship, problem-solving, and helping others. Based on these themes, the characters, and the writing style of the book, we have put together a short list of what to read next:

The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken: The Next Misadventure

by Doreen Cronin, illustrations by Kevin Cornell (Simon & Schuster)

An obvious choice, the second book in The Chicken Squad series, reunites young readers with this quirky chicken quartet on their next misadventure with a strange blue “chicken.”

How it relates: Book 2 in The Chicken Squad series

The Leaf Thief

by Alice Hemming, illustrations by Nicola Slater (Sourcebooks)

Squirrel starts to panic one day when he notices that his tree's leaves are going missing and enlists birds help to find out who the leaf thief is.

How it relates: Starring another frantic squirrel seeking help from a bird.

A Little Chicken

by Tammi Sauer, illustrations by Dan Taylor (Union Square & Co.)

A scared little chicken finds his courage when he needs to rescue an egg from the woods.

How it relates: Starring a chicken, facing fears, helping others

The Dog Who Wanted to Fly

by Kathy Stinson, illustrations by Brandon James Scott (Annick Press)

In an attempt to catch a squirrel, a dog tries a variety of ways to "fly" in order to do so and discovers that he can when it matters most.

How it relates: Dog, helping others in need

Mr. Watson's Chicken

by Jarrett Dapier, illustrations by Andrea Tsurumi (Chronicle Books)

Mr. Watson and Mr. Nelson deals with their ever growing collection of pet chickens until they can no longer endure the chaos, and find a perfect solution for themselves and their chickens.

How it relates: Family, features 456 chickens

The Squirrels Who Squabbled

by Rachel Bright, illustrations by Jim Field (Scholastic)

Two hungry squirrels battle it out for the last pinecone of the season until they learn the value of helping each other and of sharing.

How it relates: Squirrels, helping others

Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness

by Maria Gianferrari, illustrations by Pete Oswald (HarperCollins)

A friendly dog shares all the great ways you can be more like a dog, to live in the moment and to enjoy all of life's little joys.

How it relates: Dog, helping others

Chicks Rock!

by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen, illustrations by Renée Kurilla (Abrams)

This adorable picture book stars a group of different chicks, each sharing their own talents and coming together to help a friend find her inner rock star.

How it relates: Chickens, friendship, helping others

Bird & Squirrel On the Run!

by James Burks (Graphix)

An early reader graphic novel series featuring two friends, Bird and Squirrel, and their many exciting and daring adventures and mishaps together.

How it relates: Problem-solving, helping others, characters