Tuesday, June 1, 2021

Chickens on the loose by Jane Kurtz, illustrated by John Joseph


There are some things that reliably make good picture book subjects and chickens are one of them. In this title, a raucous crew of colorful chickens make a break for it and spread chaos throughout the city.

They race through a yoga studio, snatch food from the customers eating at foodcarts, and zip through a thrift store briefly decking them out in clothes and scarves. Finally, after a collision involving dog walkers, a police officer, skateboards, and more, the chickens trek home and relax, dreaming of their next adventure... but it's their chicks who are inspired for a little creative escape!

Kurtz finishes with some tips on keeping urban chickens and a few chicken facts.

The illustrations are colorful and splashy, with lots of bold lines and flying feathers. They show a diverse city, with a range of clothing styles and skin colors shown. The city shown is clean and prosperous, with a dark-skinned, female officer with time to chase chickens, people doing yoga, and lots of people playing in the park. The chickens escape from a neighborhood of small, colorful houses.

The brisk rhymes are fun to say and this makes a good read-aloud, while the pictures show well at a distance. The resolution is rather sudden, as there's no sequence showing the chickens returning home, and some of the rhymes are a little awkward, while the back matter doesn't seem to really match the cartoon chickens jaunting around the city.

Verdict: If you're looking for a fun storytime read-aloud and your town enjoys chickens, urban or rural, this is a silly and enjoyable choice.

ISBN: 9781513267241; Published May by West Margin Press; Review copy provided by publicist; Donated to the library


No comments: