Chicken in Space

PreS-Gr 2—An intrepid chicken and her hungry pig pal set off on an imaginary adventure. After some planning, Zoey, a take-charge hen sporting an aviator hat and goggles, decides it's time to travel into outer space. She asks the other farm animals to come along, but only Sam the pig takes her up on the offer, though what he really wants is a pie. To every argument brought up by naysayers, Zoey finds a positive angle. When Pip the mouse warns that the trip might be dangerous, Zoey confidently responds, "Not dangerous…. an adventure!" When Clara the cow points out that Zoey doesn't have a ship, the determined chicken declares, "Not a problem!…. an opportunity!" Finally, Sam and Zoey lift off (in a basket tied to a large bunch of balloons) and sail high over the farm. Though readers will clearly see that the pair are barely above the treetops—certainly not in space—they'll appreciate Zoey's penchant for make-believe. According to Zoey, a baseball whizzing by is an asteroid, a kite is a comet, and a flock of birds is an alien attack. Though hesitant initially, Sam eventually embraces the pretend adventure and—once they're both safely back on the ground—relays the exciting events to their farm friends. Young kids will be inspired by Zoey's can-do attitude and outsize imagination. Kober's digital illustrations feature softly shaded farm scenes with cartoon-style characters whose facial expressions and body language add humor. Creative design and placement of text, such as a gigantic "CRASH!" that appears behind the characters on their way down to Earth, create drama and make for a lively read-aloud.