Don Schmidt knows his name has changed from Stanley, and he believes he had a sister and she died of scarlet fever when she was fifteen but these and other details of Don's life don't quite add up.Don's family lives on a chicken farm in Horse Island, where his mother would prefer not to be. At school Don is known as 'new kid' even though he hasn't been new for years. And when Don becomes a true connoisseur of chickens and wins the Horse Island Chicken-Judging Contest, he is an inst...

Acclaimed children's author Jacques Couvillon grew up on a Louisiana chicken farm just like the young protagonist in The Chicken Dance. Don Schmidt's birthday is coming fast! He can't wait to find out what kind of surprises his mom and dad are sure to have in store for him. But when Don's special day finally arrives, he is saddened when his weird parents get into another argument. What can Don do to make his mom see that he is a good son?