There's a Chicken in the House

There's a Chicken in the House by Sonya Hartnett, illustrated by Lucia Masciullo (Penguin Random House Australia 2026) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN: 9781761344497

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

There's a Chicken in the House is this award-winning, creative duo's fourth picture book together, and we as readers get to reap the benefits of that extra-special something woven into the words and pictures of a time-honoured partnership.

A young girl narrates, and she's concerned about a chicken that has entered the house after the wind blew the door open. The young girl commands the chicken to leave – several times – but this chicken has a mind of its own. She struts through the house from room to room. She inspects crumbs in the kitchen, poos in the bathroom, strolls along like a princess at a party (love this), then heads to big sister's bedroom and hops into the wardrobe! 

Inside the wardrobe, coat hangers jangled.

I heard my sister in the kitchen, pushing out her chair. 

'Come back, chicken!' I whispered as loudly as I dared.

I love the delicious tension being built here! We have the worried young girl who wants to get the chicken out before big sister sees it – and big sister (completely oblivious to what's going on in her room) who is about to leave the meal table and discover it. Could the young girl be worried because she knows full well how big sister will respond to the state of her wardrobe – and that she'll most likely be blamed for it?

Or could the young girl be worried because she loves big sister and doesn't want her to get upset?

We can only imagine. But how lovely that we can.

Once the chicken is out of big sister's room and has watched a bit of telly, she heads to the door. But before the chicken wanders outside, the young girl scoops her up and says, 'Don't you want to see my room?' 

I love how the young girl goes from being completely set on getting the chicken out to accepting her and even prolonging her stay. 

A story like this could so easily have been given the slapstick treatment – a wild and frightened chicken running amok inside a house, setting off a chain of disasters with laugh-out-loud results!

But no. These two creatives chose a subtler spin.

This chicken is dignified. She wanders about, taking her own sweet time, checking out each room like she's ambling through an art gallery. The chaos is calmer, the humour is quieter, and it asks the reader to slow down and, just like this chicken, to take some time and savour the experience.

We need more stories like this in our fast-paced, screen-focussed lives.

Lucia Masciullo's endearingly whimsical illustrations complement the narrative beautifully.  Her work has an inbuilt, easy-going quality that exudes comfort and warmth.

I love the serenity of the colours she uses and how she captures so well the look and feel of an early morning summer's day – where everything is bathed in an airy, spacious light.

(And I have to add that arriving at the illustration on the final page was such a surprise – and so oddly satisfying!)

Inspired by Sonya Hartnett's own (and I'm sure, keenly observed) pet chicken, There's a Chicken in the House is a perfect read-aloud, feel-good tale about curiosity, patience and unexpected visitors.

Animal lovers, particularly those with a fondness for chickens, will resonate with and be enchanted by this delightful picture book.

Highly recommended for young readers aged 2+.