The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure

While retired search-and-rescue dog J. J. Tully (The Trouble with Chickens) takes a nap, four of the chicks in his charge investigate "something big and scary in the yard." Pinning down the specifics becomes an arduous--and humorous--task. Large font, short paragraphs, and straightforward sentences combine with expressive, endearing black-and-white illustrations to support new chapter book readers.

While retired search-and-rescue dog J.?J. Tully (The Trouble with Chickens, rev. 3/11; The Legend of Diamond Lil, rev. 7/12) takes a little nap, four of the chicks in his charge take the limelight. Before his snooze, J.?J. describes each chick for readers and then puts them on notice: "Wake me if they get into any trouble. Well, big trouble. I'm sure you can handle a little trouble on your own." Of course Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie are in trouble by the next page turn, when a frazzled squirrel bursts into the coop reporting "something big and scary in the yard." Pinning down the specifics of this claim becomes an arduous -- and humorous -- task, but the sleuthing chicks bravely head out to set things right. Fortunately, the commotion rouses J.?J. just in time. Large font, short paragraphs, and straightforward sentences combine with expressive, endearing black-and-white illustrations on almost every page to support new chapter book readers. The zealous Chicken Squad has much to learn before it can solve any mysteries solo, but the chicks' earnest mistakes create more than enough action, entertainment, and mayhem to suffice. julie roach