REVIEWS+

One Little Chicken

by Elka Weber
One Little Chicken by Elka Weber; illus. by Elisa Kleven Primary Tricycle 32 pp. 8/11 978-1-58246-374-2 $16.99 Library ed. 978-1-58246-401-5 $19.99
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The Talmud tells of a man so pious that "the entire world was sustained by his goodness." Weber casts that figure, Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa, as Mr. Bendosa, father of young Leora, who finds an errant chicken in the family's yard. Reminded by her put-upon mother that "finders aren't keepers," Leora, with her father's help, takes care of the animal while waiting for its rightful owner to appear. One thing leads to another, and the family ends up with an entire herd of goats to present to the grateful chicken-misplacer. In Weber's straightforward text, Mrs. Bendosa's well-cadenced voice adds humor ("All this for a chicken we're giving back?") while Mr. Bendosa's refrain—"How much trouble is one little chicken?…is one small goat?…are two small goats?"—speaks to his mensch-like qualities. Kleven's varied mixed-media illustrations, depicting an indeterminate Old Country setting, are full of texture and patterns. Some of the pictures are set in frames made up of traditional designs or of humorous image-extending motifs (e.g., tiny goats that dance around the family, bite-sized cheesecake confections). Other illustrations are expansive double-page spreads bustling with village life. An appended author's note tells more about the Talmudic figures on which this story is based and nudges (without noodging) readers to contemplate the tale's message. Elissa Gershowitz
K-Gr 2—Obeying the Jewish law that "finders aren't keepers," Leora cares for a found chicken while waiting for its rightful owner to return. Soon, the hen produces a flock of chicks that are sold to buy a goat whose milk leads to cheese that is sold to buy more goats that are the perfect gift for the chicken's owner, who eventually passes through and mentions his lost property. As he happily recounts the tale to his family, a lost chicken wanders into his yard…so the kindness likely will be passed on. The lilting text includes humorous phrases like, "The man thanked them so much his mouth got tired." In an author's note, Weber explains the origin of the tale, from the Talmud, and details where and why she used artistic license. Kleven's engaging mixed-media folk-art collages brim with details like a border of cakes and pies, or a coy goat offering a bouquet to Leora. The colors are rich; the textures and patterns beg to be touched, and the ending is likely to leave readers pondering this story.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA
Leora takes care of an errant chicken while waiting for its owner to appear. One thing leads to another, and her family ends up with a herd of goats to present to the grateful chicken-misplacer. Weber's text is straightforward and humorous. Kleven's varied mixed-media illustrations, depicting an indeterminate Old Country setting, are full of texture and patterns. An author's note is appended.
Reviewed by Gay Lynn Van Vleck , Sep 01, 2011

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