Cheeky Chick

PreS-K–It might take a village to raise a child, but it takes a farmyard to raise a chick in this cute British import. Mother Hen warns her brood to stay close to home and to hide when the fox is near, but one “little chick [is] much too bold,/ Doesn’t do what he’s been told.” He sets out for a solo stroll, to the great consternation of all farm animals who all caution the youngster—even the tractor beeps out a warning. When the chick inevitably encounters a fox, he barely gets away, making the pursuing beast trip into the pond. As the fox gets literally hung out to dry by the helpful livestock, the chick returns home and passes his new wisdom onto his youngest sibling. Knight’s colorful cartoonish illustrations are hilariously expressive, whether they are conveying the fox’s damp dismay or the chick’s carefree attitude. Jarman’s rhyming verses smoothly roll off the tongue, making for a fun read-aloud.