Chick, Chick, Chick, Chick, Chicken!

December 1, 2024
Julie and younger brother Bob visit Grandpa's backyard chicken flock. This is evidently Bob's first visit with Grandpa's chickens, and Julie assumes the role of guide, informing Bob about chicken-coop construction, how roosters relate to the flock, and that there are "hundreds of different kinds of chickens." Grandpa gently narrates the on-and-off excitement of a chick's hatching. The ever-so-slight plot eases young readers into the book's informational content. In addition to the facts conveyed by Grandpa and Julie, most pages feature supplemental tidbits presented in a faux hand-lettered type: "The mother doesn't start sitting on the eggs until she's laid the last one. Otherwise, they'd all hatch at different times." The book's fundamental nonfiction mission is cemented by an index that comes with a thoughtful note as to its use and a reminder to look at both the primary text and accompanying facts. The backmatter also includes an author's note and a pointer to Barbara Sandri and Francesco Giubbilini'sChickenology (2021). Regan's watercolorlike mixed-media illustrations are characterized by quick lines and a bright, gentle palette. Both children have straight, dark hair (Julie's in pigtails) and brown skin, as does their mother; Grandpa's thatch of hair and bushy eyebrows are white, and his skin is beige. All are attired in comfy, slouchy clothes that befit the cozy episode. This introduction to backyard chicken keeping couldn't be sweeter.(Informational picture book. 4-7)

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February 1, 2025
Preschool-Grade 2 When a girl and her younger brother stay with their grandfather, he introduces them to his backyard chickens, which live in a fenced-in chicken coop. After the children meet the several varieties of chickens, Grandpa takes them to meet Lottie, a hen that has laid her eggs and now sits atop them, keeping them warm while clucking quietly. The following day, one of the chicks is using the egg tooth on its beak to make a little hole in its shell. By the next day, that chick has hatched, looking "scraggly and wet." A day later, it is yellow and fluffy. Within the story, Grandpa offers relevant chicken facts, which may well interest the book's audience. The mixed-media artwork features a variety of soft, pleasing colors: sunny yellows and tans, light blues and greens, with the occasional red accent. While the chickens are the center of attention, part of this picture book's essential charm is the depiction of the characters, particularly the children, as they enjoy a new experience, accompanied by their gentle, knowledgeable grandfather.

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