Big Chickens

by Leslie Helakoski, Henry Cole (Illustrator)

Overview

When four big chickens see a wolf sneaking near their coop, they run into the woods to hide. But for a bunch of big chickens, running away from danger isn't as easy as it looks. As they continue on their way, they wonder: What if they get stuck in a ditch? What if they hit an iceberg in the lake? What if they step into a cow patty? Eewww! Brimming with silliness and the kind of slapstick humor small children love, here's a rollicking read-aloud with an uplifting message and a very satisfying ending.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780142410578
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	01/31/2008
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	442,908
Product dimensions:	9.74(w) x 8.44(h) x 0.12(d)
Lexile:	490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Leslie Helakoski lives in Lawton, Michigan. Henry Cole lives in Washington, D.C.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"With word play reminiscent of Margie Palatini at her best, Helakoski takes four timorous chickens into, then out of, the literal and figurative woods. [R]ousing." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

Editorial Reviews

The portly, partly clothed hens make comical figures in this tribute to chicken power.

—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 1-Helakoski gives a new twist to the old story about a henhouse and a furry predator in this funny story. These four suggestible hens are "chicken" in more ways than one. When they first spy a wolf, they run off to hide in the woods, but are soon frightened by a ditch, and then by a peaceful-looking group of cows, and on and on, until they end up in a cave, where an encounter with actual danger leaves them feeling brave for the first time. Bright pictures convey the comic events with an exaggerated style just right for the story line. There's a satisfying amount of silliness that will leave children giggling at the panic-stricken fowl and the chaos they produce wherever they go. Predictable patterns in the language and in the narrative structure add appeal as well. As fluffy as the hens' tail feathers, this selection will be an enjoyable read-aloud for kids on a lap or in a group.-Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

With wordplay reminiscent of Margie Palatini at her best, Helakoski takes four timorous chickens into, then out of, the literal and figurative woods. Fleeing the henhouse after catching sight of a wolf, the pusillanimous pullets come to a deep ditch: " ‘What if we can't jump that far?' ‘What if we fall in the ditch?' ‘What if we get sucked into the mud?' The chickens tutted, putted, and flutted. They butted into themselves and each other, until one by one . . . " they do fall in. But then they pick themselves up and struggle out. Ensuing encounters with cows and a lake furnish similar responses and outcomes; ultimately they tumble into the wolf's very cave, where they "picked, pecked, and pocked. They ruffled, puffled, and shuffled. They shrieked, squeaked, and freaked, until . . . " their nemesis scampers away in panic. Fluttering about in pop-eyed terror, the portly, partly clothed hens make comical figures in Cole's sunny cartoons (as does the flummoxed wolf)-but the genuine triumph in their final strut-" ‘I am a big, brave chicken,' said one chicken. ‘Ohh . . . ' said the others. ‘Me too.' ‘Me three.' ‘Me four' "-brings this tribute to chicken power to a rousing close. (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews