Mavis the Bravest

PreS-K–Mavis the chicken prefers the comforts of her nest and her knitting to the unknowns that are found in the wider world. Despite the fact that her best friend Marge is frequently encouraging Mavis to join her on adventures, she remains in her perch, contentedly clicking her knitting needles. One day, however, a thief comes for Sandra the sheep, and it is up to Mavis to dig deep and summon the bravery necessary to rescue her barnyard companion. This charming title is especially well suited to be read aloud. Written in rhyming couplets with a fairly consistent meter, the pacing of the book is designed to carry readers through the story with ease and enjoyment. Fun vocabulary choices and a variety of font shapes and sizes enhance the appeal of the book, and young children will delight in being able to guess many of the rhymes as they approach. The text couples nicely with the illustrations to provide a dynamic visual layout; clever details are hidden within the images in the form of additional characters that are not referenced by the narrative, and each face is delightfully expressive. Readers of all ages will rally behind Mavis as she discovers her inner well of bravery, and they will be inspired to summon their own courage when circumstances are right.