Ready for chapter books
Begin with The Chicken Squad, the first full mystery and best introduction to all four detectives.
Book Series · 6 Books
The Chicken Squad Books
In order from The Chicken Squad to Bear Country.
Four fuzzy young detectives investigate backyard mysteries with enormous confidence, questionable logic, and plenty of jokes in this illustrated early chapter-book series.
Reviewed by the Bookroo Editors Updated
Reading order
How to Read the Chicken Squad Books
Read the six numbered chapter books in order, beginning with The Chicken Squad. The mysteries stand alone, but the chickens, their caretaker Barbara, and their backyard neighbors return throughout.
The Chicken House and A Backyard Pet are shorter Ready-to-Read Level 2 adventures. They are optional extras and a useful easier choice for children who enjoy the characters but are not ready for a 112-page book.
Sources: Simon & Schuster Chicken Squad series.
For parents
What Parents Should Know
The chickens regularly believe they have found aliens, monsters, kidnappers, dangerous shadows, or a headless bear. These mysteries usually grow from misunderstandings, and comedy undercuts the scares.
There is mild animal peril, a missing caretaker, bickering, and comic name-calling. The books reward observation and teamwork while letting children notice how confidently the squad can reach the wrong conclusion.
Where to start
Where Should My Child Start?
Needs a shorter reader
Try The Chicken House or A Backyard Pet for the same characters in a shorter Level 2 format.
Where the story begins
First Book in the Series
Sale price
$759
Book #1 · Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2014
The Chicken Squad
By Doreen Cronin, Kevin Cornell (Illustrator)
A group of chickens and a squirrel team up to solve a mystery in their backyard
112 pages· 3,856 words· Est. 33 min read
5.5/7 Bookroo
$7.99Save 5%
Paperback
Summary: Meet the Chicken Squad: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie. These fearless chicks tackle mysteries, not bugs. When a frantic Squirrel warns of a strange, shiny object in the yard, the squad springs into action. Could it be a UFO with alien intentions? As they investigate, the stakes rise. Will these plucky detectives crack the case before it's too late? Join their out-of-this-world adventure and find out!
In reading order
The Chicken Squad Series
6 books · Published 2014–2018
#1
Sale price
$759
The Chicken Squad
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2014
A group of chickens and a squirrel team up to solve a mystery in their backyard
#2
Sale price
$759
The Case of the Weird Blue Chicken
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2014
A quirky squad of chickens tackles the bizarre mystery of a kidnapped house.
#3
Sale price
$759
Into the Wild
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2016
Chickens face a mystery box in the yard. Can they solve it before the rain hits?
#4
Sale price
$759
Dark Shadows
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2017
A family of chickens visits their farm relatives and gets caught up in a mystery involving a missing shoe and a suspicious character named Befrizzle
#5
Sale price
$759
Gimme Shelter
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2017
A storm shelter project uncovers mysterious surprises. Can the Chicken Squad handle it?
#6
Sale price
$759
Bear Country
Chapter Book · Ages 7–10 · 2018
A headless bear roams, and Barbara is missing. Can the Chicken Squad solve the mystery?
Shorter Level 2 readers
More Chicken Squad Adventures
2 books · Published 2021–2022
Two brief stories with the same characters. They are extras, not books #7 and #8 in the chapter-book sequence.
Sale price
$1697
The Chicken House
Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2021
Chickens invade a dog's house, sparking a new misadventure.
Sale price
$1697
A Backyard Pet
Picture Book · Ages 5–7 · 2022
A chicken seeks the perfect backyard pet amidst quirky choices.
Good to know
Common Questions
How many books are in the Chicken Squad series?
There are 6 books in the Chicken Squad series. It began with The Chicken Squad in 2014, and the newest book, Bear Country, was published in 2018.
What order should you read the Chicken Squad books in?
Start with The Chicken Squad and follow the series order — the books above are numbered #1 through #6.
What ages are the Chicken Squad books best for?
The series is best for ages 7–10, based on the age ranges of the individual books.
Which Chicken Squad book is the longest?
Dark Shadows (Book #4) is the longest book in the series at 6,128 words (144 pages).
Which Chicken Squad book is the shortest?
The Chicken Squad (Book #1) is the shortest at 3,856 words (112 pages).
The people
The Creatives Behind the Books
The people who bring The Chicken Squad to life.
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