Letting Go

PreS-Gr 1—The Loopy Coop Hens are back in another picture-book adventure that can do double duty as an early reader, with nary a wasted word. Midge, Pip, and Dot are sitting in the shade when some apples fall on them, and they jump to the conclusion that this is the work of a fox. They beckon Rooster Sam, but when he gets scared and runs away, Dot, the bravest of the three, climbs up a ladder to have a look. She discovers that the apples "just… let go." She convinces the other hens to join her for the view, and then they all joyfully "let go." The story line is more sophisticated than the simple text indicates, and the early elementary audience will understand and enjoy the humor, as will older preschoolers. Stoeke's trademark naïf, simply outlined chickens are in full feather here. The artist portrays a variety of emotions with a minimum of lines, and the large, colorful illustrations fill the pages, lending themselves to reading the book to a group. The clean lines and unembellished backgrounds allow the pictures to pop and draw the eye nicely. A welcome addition to any collection.—Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT