Hester Jones
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The Little Book of Chi

This is a little book about 3 different animals.
​Chickens, chihuahuas, and children.

​Have you ever wondered which came first?
Did you know?​​​ 
Chihuahuas love going to the seaside;
digging holes in the sand, eating ice-cream,
jumping on sandcastles, and doing doggy paddle. 
Oh, and doing their doggy business.
Chihuahuas use their back legs to
hide their number twos in the sand.
And they love to snooze in the sun.
But what doggy doesn't?

Chickens like bathing too.
They love to bask in the sun
and dust bathe with their friends.
They use their wings to throw dust
over their feathers to stay healthy;
and stop termites and other creepy crawlies
from sucking their blood.
Their wings are perfect for protecting their
baby chicks. 
And they love to play in the garden,
especially in summertime.


​
Chihuahuas love to snuggle up somewhere
warm and cosy, especially on a rug or sofa by the fire
when it's cold outside. And they secretly love
to be cuddled by humans; especially children.

Chickens also like a warm and cosy nest.
It makes them feel safe and protected with
their eggs and baby chicks.
They also make great pets and love to
be stroked and hugged by humans too.


​Humans say that chihuahuas are not the
smartest of dogs, and neither are Dalmatians.
But then not all humans are as smart as they think they are.
Chihuahuas are cute, especially when children dress them up in clothes;
but looks aren't everything you know!


​Chickens are super smart.
They use the left side of the brain and eye to look for food,
while the other side looks out for predators;
all at the same time! 
Chickens can solve problems, remember favors,
recognize and remember over 100 other chickens;
and they can also remember humans!

Chihuahuas can live for up to 18 years.
The oldest chihuahua lived for over 20 years
and was called 'Megabyte'.
That's 140 in human animal years!


​Chickens can live for up to 25 years.
Unfortunately their lives are cut very short
by animal predators who are mostly human but not humane.
Humankind is not always kind.  

Before eating their eggs, legs, and wings,
human animals keep chickens and hens locked in cages
no bigger than an A4 piece of paper.
Or cramped inside with no sunlight or room
to stretch their legs or wings. They even cut their beaks off,
which for a human would feel like having their finger, or nose cut off.


Some chihuahuas suffer from phobias, like staying home alone,
fear of strange dogs, traffic, and noisy road diggers.
When they are scared they sometimes look angry,
or pee their pants.

Chickens worry too.
Baby chicks suffer from separation anxiety
if they lose their mums. But they can also add,
subtract and understand object-permanence from a day old,
yonks before children can. Now that's what you call smart!


​Even if humans can't properly understand the language of chickens
they understand each other and communicate with at least 30 types
of vocalization (that humans know of). With many different meanings;
such as alarm bells, calling their chicks, and telling their 
friends and family about food sources.

 
​Just like you and me, chickens and chihuahuas dream
and experience Rapid Eye Movement when they sleep.
I wonder what they dream about!

Chickens love life.
So do chihuahuas.
And so do children.

In fact their biggest dream is not to be made into a hot dog,
a chicken nugget, a greasy burger; or to be gobbled up by cannibals.

Rumour has it that chickens have been on Planet Earth for
1,000’s of years and were first found as Jungle Fowl in China.
They say that Chihuahuas originated from Mexico centuries ago.
Children, have been hop, skipping and jumping on Earth for millions of years.


Chickens, Chihuahuas and Children
are very different animals. 

But they have a lot in common:

Eyes
Ears
Touch 
Taste
Smell
Lungs
Faces
Hearts 
Friends & Family 

​And they all like to take deep breaths.

Lots of them. 


Especially when they are about to jump in a swimming pool.

And did you know?

If you are worried, or scared, then take a big deep breath and count to 10. 

​Inhale
&
Exhale​

Feel the air enter your nostrils and fill your lungs
like a big red balloon.
It will help you feel calm.

Then feel the air slide out of your nostrils.
Whoosh!
Let go of the balloon
and watch your worries float away
high in to the sky.

​If somebody is mean or calls you a horrible name,
take another deep breathe,
and count to 10 again.

​Well, that's what clever chickens and chihuahuas do,
and clever children too.


Children, chickens and chihuahuas do not worry about tomorrow.
Or yesterday. Or the day before.
They focus on each breath that enters and leaves their nostrils and mouth. 
​

They Love Life Now.
​
Chi is the life force energy in every living being on the planet!
We all share the same breath.


CLUCK CLUCK
​WOOF WOOF
​TEE HEE

The End
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