Bin Chicken Flies Again by Kate and Jol Temple

Title: Bin Chicken Flies Again

Author: Kate and Jol Temple

Genre: Humour

Publisher: Scholastic Australia

Published: 1^st May 2022

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 24

Price: $17.99

Synopsis: ‘Where’s all the garbage and delightful bin juice? This trash can is empty, I feel like a goose! That dirty truck is stealing my food! It’s simply not on. How terribly rude!’ Ibis has a grand plan to take back her trash! But look out, she’s got some very hungry competition …

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Bin Chicken has gone in search of food. But alas! Her usual foodie places are devoid of anything edible. In fact, they’re devoid of anything at all – they’re completely empty. Woe is bin chicken, what is bin chicken to do?  But then she sees it – the thieving truck that has taken her food! How rude! And so, bin chicken sets off to find her food and beat the competition to her feast. In true Kate and Jol Temple style, bin chicken is back – but will she find her food?

There is something delightful about Kate and Jol Temple’s bin chicken books, illustrated by Ronojoy Ghosh, who brings their funny rhymes to life. The animals and city come to life, and younger readers, in fact readers of all ages, will laugh at Bin Chicken’s antics as she tries to get food. But the poor bin chickens, or white ibises, face a much harsher reality and it is books like this that can open the door to education about issues about how urbanisation has affected animals like the ibis. Whilst we may laugh and giggle and get great enjoyment out of the fun rhymes and accompanying images, there is a deeper message in the stories about how birds like the ibis and seagulls have had to rely on certain food sources, and what it means for them. I think doing it like this is powerful because it doesn’t always feel like you are learning, but in fact, you are. It means that we can have conversations after enjoying the book, depending on your age. Younger children will see a funny story about a bin chicken, whilst older readers may see the realities faced by the white ibis.

I think this is one of those books that can be enjoyed by a wide range of readers, and that can be used in a variety of settings – to have fun, to teach children about language and rhyming, to build reading confidence, or to start discussions about environmental issues. I read this for entertainment, but picked up on some of the hidden messages. It is a book that doesn’t ascribe itself to being what some people would call a ‘boy’ book or a ‘girl’ book – like all books, it is just a book that anyone can read. I loved it and I think there will be lots of other people who enjoy it too.