The chicken's curse by Frances Watts
Allen and Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525569. 272pp.
(Age: Mid - Upper primary) In the Australian year 7 HASS curriculum,
students investigate the Mediterranean world of the ancient past and
the contributions of the ancient world to our modern social,
political and economic systems. Students reflect on government and
democracy, laws, citizens and citizenship, develop empathy and
understanding of significance and perspectives.
This content could be dry and formal or it could be introduced
through a class serial read of The chicken's curse. This
book is hilarious fun. The amount and quality of political, social,
economic and historical facts and events that are embedded cannot be
underestimated. What better way is there to learn than through
following a hilarious narrative! It's sub-liminal learning.
Our heroes are Livia and Felix. The same age as upper primary
readers, they are courageous, full of initiative and very likeable.
Representing different classes within Roman society, Felix is
escaping from the military and Livia is escaping slavery. Together,
with the questionable help of a crazy sacred chicken, a talking
camel, a magic carpet and others, they travel pretty well all the way
around the Mediterranean in a bid to see Caesar and to rescue
Livia's brother from being fed to the lions.
At the beginning of the book there is a map that students can refer
to in order to follow the action. Without effort, through this
process, they cannot help but come to understand the geography of
the Mediterranean. By following the antics of our heroes they
couldn't help but become very interested and engaged with what the
curriculum is requiring them to investigate.
It is great when teachers, parents and librarians have books that
they can direct students to which help to engage students with
curriculum content. The chicken's cursehappens to fit this
bill.
The hilarious efforts of General Fabius Maximus Porcius and others
are reminiscent of the Asterix comics so beloved of generations of
readers. There are so many springboards for further investigations
triggered by this book.
Recommended for mid-upper primary, The chicken's curse makes
one smile - indeed laugh out loud . . . and learn.
Wendy Jeffrey