Brave Chicken Little

K-Gr 2—Byrd reimagines this classic folktale through a beautifully painted landscape and a story line that begins with Chicken Little heading off to the market to buy honey, flour, and milk with strict instructions not to "dillydally." When a pesky acorn to the noggin leads him to believe the sky is falling, he enlists the help of a hilariously named cast of characters, including the famous Henny Penny, as well as the lesser-known Froggy Wogg and Roly and Poly Moley, to warn the king. They are soon duped by a fox and locked in his cellar. Spurred by the impending doom of being served for dinner, they find an escape route, and Chicken Little saves the day by pelting the fox with apples, turning Foxy Loxy into the fool who believes the sky is falling. His mother finds his return home without any baking supplies puzzling, and Chicken Little falls into bed to dream of "baking cakes, ferocious foxes, majestic kings, giant acorns, and falling apples." While the artwork perfectly fits the timeless nature of this familiar story, Byrd's adaptation adds little nuance or humor, making it hard to imagine much appeal for young readers. Collections with large folktale sections can certainly add it with confidence, but versions like Rebecca and Ed Emberleys' Chicken Little (Roaring Brook, 2009) or Keith Graves's Chicken Big (Chronicle, 2010) are more likely to resonate with a new generation of readers.—Jenna Boles, Greene County Public Library, Beavercreek, OH