The Chickens Build a Wall

Gr 1–3—This contemporary parable teaches about the repercussions of intolerance and xenophobia. When a hedgehog appears on the farm, he startles the barnyard animals, who have never seen the likes of one before. While some animals don't see what the fuss is about, the chickens panic, and the rooster suggests they build a wall around the henhouse to keep out this unfamiliar creature. They erect a huge edifice, only to discover that they have forgotten to include a door, and thus have immured themselves along with the hedgehog. After wintering with him, they get used to the little creature, dismantle the wall, and let him stay. The style and palette of Dumont's predominantly double-page illustrations are reminiscent of Henry Cole's in Leslie Helakoski's Big Chickens (Dutton, 2008), but with less obviously cartoonish shenanigans. The friendly looking animals and the bright colors of the pictures lend the serious subject of this tale a more child-friendly tone, especially given the lengthy text. The audience will most likely miss the strong political undercurrent of the story, such as the downright dictatorial depiction of the rooster towering over the crowd of chickens. However, the message about learning about the unfamiliar rather than fearing it is an important one, and this book handles it well.—Yelena Alekseyeva-Popova, formerly at Chappaqua Library, NY