Marigold is a Chicken

Published by Crocodile Books
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
LIST PRICE $19.95

About The Book

A humorous and heartwarming tale of unconditional love!

In this is warm and funny picture book by award-winning author-illustrator, Alex Latimer, four chickens are eagerly waiting for their eggs to hatch. Philomena's chick is first. She is big and strong and seems born to be an athlete. Hilda's chick shows immediate promise as a scientist. Karen's chick is a talented artist. However, when Barbara's chick hatches, it is... well, just a chick.

But Barbara thinks her chick, Marigold, is perfect. Barbara loves Marigold, not because she is talented or strong, but because she is hers and that is what makes her special! She simply wants her chick to be herself.

About The Author

Alex Latimer is a picture book writer and illustrator based in Cape Town, South Africa. His first picture book, The Boy Who Cried Ninja came out in 2011 and since then he has published many more including Don't Think of Tigers, The Duck Never Blinks, Godfrey is a Frog, Am I Yours? and Dinosaur Hide-and-Seek. His latest series for newly independent readers is Gordon the Meanest Goose on Earth—about a mean goose who is in the process of changing his ways.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Crocodile Books (September 15, 2026)
  • Length: 32 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781623715335

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

A young chick wonders what her special talent might be. Four hens in the coop all have colorful eggs, waiting to hatch. One chick pops out wearing a sweatband. She is destined to be an athlete. The second draws the Mona Lisa (in chicken form) on the barn wall. The third wears glasses and is already reading the “hencylopedia” (“She’ll be a scientist, I just know it!” gushes her mother). Marigold is the last chick born. And she is, “well, just a chick.” Marigold tries hard to copy the others, but her skills aren’t good enough (“2+2 = umm, underwear?”). So she tries new hobbies. But nothing works. A teary Marigold wails, “I’m not good at ANYTHING!” A warm hug from her mother and soft assurances help comfort the distraught chick. “None of the other chicks are you,” Mama says. “All you have to be is Marigold.” And from her walk to her laugh, Marigold is the best Marigold that any chick could be. Latimer’s sunny farmyard fields and bright, wide-eyed chickens amplify the lesson that ordinary can be extraordinary. Every one of the squat, fluffy chicks must find their own path to poultry prowess. A diagram of a chicken life cycle is appended. A cheery celebration of individuality. (Picture book. 3-6)

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

BACK TO TOP