Reviews

BOOK LIFE

The most important work of early childhood is play, as kids learn best when they are also enjoying themselves. In Huff’s fun-filled, rhyming picture book, very young learners will gain an introduction to numbers and counting while also having a good time. The story follows ten chickens as they play in their backyard, getting up to a variety of shenanigans such as running from bees, playing baseball, dancing, and even going on a date. One of the most humorous scenes shows two chickens using binoculars to search for Farmer Kevin, who is standing right behind them. At the end of the day, the chickens happily return to their pen.

This book’s appeal stems from the fact that Huff knows her audience. A retired early childhood educator, she has devoted her career to helping children and adults find the joy in learning through storytelling, music, and puppets. Kids will enjoy the onomatopoeia and rhyming, songlike cadence of the prose- particularly the chickens’ nonsensical refrain of “bakk baba bakk baba bakk bakk bakk’- which will help keep them engaged and wanting to return for another read. This is the type of story that can be elevated by the participation of an enthusiastic adult reader, especially one who is willing to get up and dance.

In keeping with the book’s lighthearted nature, Wendy Fedan’s expressive illustrations show the chickens wearing jewelry, playing instruments, and grinning enthusiastically with brightly colored plumes of feathers on their heads. In one scene, two chickens prank another by dangling a spider on a string, which kids will find amusing. The humorous pictures provide easily recognizable scenes that follow the rhymes, allowing even the smallest readers to enjoy a good laugh or two. Ultimately, this delightful story will create a fun bonding experience for adults and kids, who might even find themselves counting and singing along. Takeaway: Fun-filled introduction to numbers, counting, and chicken chatter.

 

KIRKUS REVIEW

In Huff’s rollicking picture boo, 10 chickens come to life and enjoy barnyard fun. A group of 10 chickens enjoy farmyard fun–sharing adventures, avoiding bees, playing ball, doing tricks, and dancing. Fedan’s full-color illustrations create a chaotic feel, adding to the silly and engaging tone of the story. The text integrates many pre-academic skills associated with early literacy and math development, including rhythm, rhyme, onomatopoeia, and counting. The musicality makes this book soar, balancing rhymes with sounds that chickens would make while bringing imaginative fun to the barnyard: “Chicken three and chicken four,/playing ball and keeping score./ Bakk baba bakk baba bakk bakk bakk!”

The text is clearly written and designed to showcase the joy of reading-varied rhyme schemes encourage early literacy skills without feeling didactic. Although the illustrations and changing fonts can seem messy, the color palate and strong black outlines add some structure and help support the silly quality of the proceedings. This is not a narrative containing a clear plot structure; the book would work best as a guided reading experience with a more experienced reader pointing out details, or the test could be sung as a song. The gentle absurdity of the birds’ antics is sure to entice early readers and chicken enthusiasts alike. A perfect pick to illustrate the fun of reading for the very young.

A group of 10 chickens enjoys farmyard fun, sharing adventures, avoiding bees, playing ball, doing tricks, and dancing. The illustrations create a chaotic feel, adding to the silly and engaging tone of the story. The text integrates many pre-academic skills associated with early literacy and math development, including rhythm, rhyme, onomatopoeia, and counting.