Praise for Chicken Little and the Very Long Race:
"[A] wryly funny paean to perseverance. . . . [and] a successful third hit for the 'real' Chicken Little. An amusing satire on influencer culture and an earnest endorsement of disciplined effort." — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Chicken Little and the Big Bad Wolf:
"Plenty of humor... and the message about difference and acceptance is entertainingly delivered." — Kirkus Reviews
Praise for Chicken Little: The Real and Totally True Tale:
"In this clever spin on the classic tale, Chicken Little makes it clear—right from the get-go—that she's got plenty of pluck... Wedelich's hand-lettered text is chockful of humor... Equally chuckle-worthy, Wedelich's loose-lined digital illustrations feature a protagonist who sports cowboy boots and oversized spectacles, both tinted fire-engine red. In this fractured fable, empathy ends up saving the day, and the moral (don't believe everything you hear; check the facts) is broadcast loud and clear." — The Horn Book
"Whimsy reigns in Wedelich's debut picture book, a reimagining of the classic doomsday story. Punchy speech balloons and spare, loosely lined digital cartoons imbue the title character with abundant personality and humorous mood swings...Sprawling across vertical matte pages dominated by teal and ochre hues, Wedelich's hand-lettered text mimics her story's high energy, while the hens' wry asides ("We're free-range!") amplify the comedy. A spry readaloud that will entertain adults and listeners in equal measure." — Publishers Weekly
"Sam's whimsical line brings to life a contemporary take on a classic character. This unexpected story has a great message and many laughs." — Kirkus Reviews
"The whole episode takes on a kinder, gentler slant... [and] this chicken, stylish in her red cowboy boots and huge eyeglasses, is worthy of admiration for her ability to "pullet" together in the wake of a sudden mishap." — Booklist
2023-11-04
Apparently unaware of his own cautionary history, Hare is destined to repeat it in this wryly funny paean to perseverance.
Chicken Little isn’t interested in the upcoming marathon. (“Have you seen how short my legs are?”) But the hens are agog at the competition’s sponsor and most famous participant, Hare, a local celebrity, and begin to train diligently. Then Hare’s running manual arrives. Despite its title, Hop to It, the book is strangely silent on workouts, instead touting Hare-brand smoothies, sneakers, and sweatbands. The hens purchase everything and relax on chaises, reading and slurping. Upon learning that the hens haven’t read any other training handbooks, serious, bespectacled Chicken Little becomes concerned. She warns, “It’s a very long race! You could get hurt if you don’t train!” “If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Goaded, she signs up to race and begins a strenuous regimen. It’s a tough ordeal, but “still, she persisted,” sustained by her mantra, “slow and steady.” The race-day results will not be a surprise. Hare struggles to accept coming in second, while Chicken Little, having realized the rewards of determination and hard work, ponders future challenges. With hand-lettering and minimal touches of color, the droll, lighthearted line illustrations and sly nods to adult readers balance the sensible messaging. This is a successful third hit for the “real” Chicken Little.
An amusing satire on influencer culture and an earnest endorsement of disciplined effort. (Picture book. 3-7)
