Acclaimed actress Isabella Rossellini shares her enthusiasm for raising heritage-breed chickens
From beloved actress, filmmaker, and animal enthusiast Isabella Rossellini comes a delightful, beautifully illustrated look at the surprising intelligence and fine-feathered glory of her Long Island flock.
When Isabella Rossellini ordered 38 baby chicks for her Long Island farm, she expected a simple, uniform brood. What arrived was a mixed carton of diverse heritage breeds-a discovery that sparked a passionate journey into the world of poultry.
My Chickens and I is an engaging and informative illustrated guide. Rossellini combines her signature wit and curiosity (familiar to fans of her work in films ranging from Blue Velvet to Conclave) with genuine affection for her birds.
Inside, you will discover:
- A Personal Journey: Follow the hilarious and heartwarming story of how Rossellini, daughter of cinema legends Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, became an accidental, dedicated chicken keeper.
- Fascinating Facts & History: Dive into the unique traits, history, and surprising intelligence of various heritage breeds, and learn about the evolution and domestication of chickens.
- Wry Observations & Original Art: The book is richly layered with Rossellini's own charming, hand-drawn illustrations and personal anecdotes.
- Stunning Photography: Photos by her friend, the renowned portrait photographer Patrice Casanova, capture the beauty and distinct personalities of these spirited backyard birds.
Perfect for new backyard chicken keepers, fans of Isabella Rossellini, or anyone who simply appreciates the quirky magic of the animal kingdom, his book is a heartwarming testament to the resilience and charm of one of the world's most sustainable and beloved animals.
"When I heard that Isabella Rossellini had written a book about chickens, I was intrigued. What did the actress, face of Lancôme, muse to Martin Scorsese and David Lynch, and daughter of cinema royalty (Ingrid Bergman, the three-time Oscar-winning actor, and Roberto Rossellini, the Italian neo-realist director), know about hens?
Quite a lot, it turns out.
[...]
It might be hard to warm to a chicken but she loves hers, and her affection for the birds bubbles up on every page of her new book, My Chickens and I, in which they appear in her own line drawings, as well as in photographs taken by her fashion photographer friend Patrice Casanova, who shot them against a white backdrop, as if they were models." Telegraph Magazine
"If April is making you feel like a proverbial spring chicken, then look no further than Isabella Rossellini's new book, In this delightful illustrated guide, the actress and filmmaker shares her newfound passion for raising these backyard birds and walks us through their upbringing, from their arrival in a cardboard box dotted with air holes to the fine-feathered specimens they have become." Daily Mail
"Isabella Rossellini and chickens may seem an unlikely pairing, but it is in fact the subject of a book by the actor herself. Celebrating her passion for raising heritage-breed hens, it includes hand-drawn illustrations and wry observations on each breed, making it a helpful guide with a twist" Country Living
"Sitting in a light-filled suite at The Savoy hotel, London, the daughter of actress Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini is regaling a group of beauty journalists with stories about her chickens - she has compiled a book, My Chickens and I, which is published this month. Isabella lives on a 28-acre farm on Long Island, New York. She sells her vegetables at a farmers' market and she's studying for a master's degree in animal behaviour." Hello! magazine
"My Chickens and I is a newly released study of the history, behaviour, appearance and distinctive traits of heritage breed chickens - told via illustrations, photographs, factual tidbits and anecdotes - by none other than Isabella Rossellini." AnOtherMag.com
"Patrice's photography is stunning and when
combined with Isabella's hand-drawn illustrations and wry observations,
make for an unusual book, a bewitching one that is full of heart and
soul. It's a wonderful tribute to the new feathered members of her
family." Smallholder magazine
"After ordering a box of rare-breed chicks for her Long Island farm, Isabella Rossellini quickly became fascinated with her new brood. The actress vividly conveys this delight in My Chickens and I, a charming book filled with playful pictures and quirky illustrations of her feathered friends, that will be enjoyed by both young and old." Town & Country magazine
