Counting Chickens

PreS-Gr 2—Tobi may have the finest hen in the village, but his friends' animals are all having babies, while Tobi's chicken only lays eggs. As days pass, Aduke's four kittens, Dapo's six piglets, and other animals grow quickly. Tobi and his hen wait for the eggs to hatch. Their patience pays off, and a year later, the seven chicks have grown into hens with their own broods. Alakija packs a lot into this deceptively simple story. She incorporates cardinal and ordinal numbers in contrasts, such as Tunde and her sheep's "two lambs" on a page facing Tobi's hen and the "second egg." The narrative stretches from Monday to Sunday, one chick per day. Illustrations bustle with daily activities in an African village, and animals appear several times for sharp-eyed readers to count again. The final challenge comes with the spread that takes place a year later, with 50 chickens strutting, nesting, and exploring their surroundings. The large format, engaging acrylic-and-pencil illustrations, and engaging story make this counting book a fine choice for read-aloud sessions and individual exploration.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University Library, Mankato