The Hoboken Chicken Emergency


The Hoboken Chicken Emergency is a 1977 children's book by Daniel and Jill Pinkwater. The book may have been inspired by the Jersey Giant breed of chicken.

Plot summary

The main character, Arthur, is asked to pick up a reserved turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, but the market has lost the reservation, and no store in the area has any turkeys or other birds available for purchase. So Arthur finds and brings home a 266-pound chicken named Henrietta. The family welcomes her with open arms, but the neighbors are not so sure. Everyone in town is horrified after Henrietta escapes.

In other media

The Hoboken Chicken Emergency was adapted into a television movie in 1984. It was adapted into a play by Chad Henry in 1988.