Two-Headed Chicken
on Goodreads (244)
What’s inside...
In a hilarious, absurdist romp by New York Times best-selling creator Tom Angleberger, a two-headed chicken races across the multiverse to escape a hungry moose. The adventure takes our hero through dozens of bizarre universes, each more unexpected than the last, from an ocean planet with a disturbing mermoose, to a world where chickens drive cars, and even to a land covered in pizza sauce. Along the way, the story breaks the fourth wall, packed with jokes, quizzes, and games, reminiscent of favorites like Dog Man and CatStronauts. Tom Angleberger makes his original graphic novel debut with this lightning-fast caper that will leave readers laughing out loud and eager for each new page.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
208 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think it's like for the two-headed chicken to have two heads? How would you feel if you were in its place?
Can you name some ways the two-headed chicken helped its friends in the story?
What did you learn about friendship from the two-headed chicken?
How do you think the two-headed chicken’s unique feature affected its relationships with other characters?
Would you have done anything differently if you were one of the two-headed chicken's friends?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, use empathetic listening. This means nodding and responding appropriately to show you are engaged and understand your child’s perspective.
Encourage your child to think creatively by asking them to imagine alternative endings or additional adventures for the two-headed chicken.
Connect themes from the book to real-life situations, such as friendships and cooperation, to help your child relate personally to the story.
Emphasize the importance of accepting differences, a key theme in the book, by discussing diversity and uniqueness in people they know.
Use the discussion as an opportunity to enhance your child’s vocabulary by explaining and discussing any challenging words they encounter in the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Importance of Teamwork
Explanation: The two-headed chicken demonstrates how working together can help solve problems more effectively than working alone.
Real-World Application: Children learn to collaborate with others, understanding that teamwork can lead to success in school projects and other group activities.
Example Lesson: Embracing Differences
Explanation: The unique physical characteristic of the chicken in the book teaches children that being different is valuable and can be a strength.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children accept and celebrate diversity among their peers, promoting inclusivity in their everyday interactions.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the Face of Challenges
Explanation: The two-headed chicken faces various challenges but always perseveres and overcomes them, showing resilience and determination.
Real-World Application: Children learn to stay determined and resilient when facing their own challenges, whether academic or personal.
Example Lesson: Creative Problem Solving
Explanation: The story highlights how the chicken navigates through problems by thinking outside the box and coming up with innovative solutions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to think creatively in solving problems, whether in their studies or in play.
Example Lesson: Sharing and Cooperation
Explanation: With two heads, the chicken in the story must share and cooperate to function, which showcases the importance of these skills.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of sharing and cooperating with siblings and friends, helping to build harmonious relationships.