(2) K-3 Heading home after an unrewarded trip (no blue ribbon) to the fair, Chicken suddenly finds himself jostled out of Farmer's truck bed and onto the side of the road. Chicken exclaims to no one in particular that he simply can't walk home to the farm, but a series of animals attempt to help him get there. Bird suggests taking flight, but Frog's quick research showing that chickens can't actually fly brings Chicken back down to earth. With walking as his only option, Chicken sets out along the road--in the cartoony art, a brown and bumpy path against a lime-green background. A noise scares him into hiding in Mole's hole, where Turtle arrives to commiserate and provide Chicken with a new mantra: "I am a STRONG and POWERFUL and NICE-LOOKING chicken!" Emboldened by Turtle's encouragement, the chicken escapes the hole and then a close call with a hungry Fox. Full of giggle-inducing exclamations and well-timed page-turns, Thomas's comedy of errors unfolds entirely in dialogue. Bold-colored backgrounds help to signal moments of heightened alarm along Chicken's journey. Thomas's use of panels measures the delivery of each punch line, and her characters' boxy bodies and flailing limbs bring silliness to every encounter. Somewhere between snorts of laughter, readers might even catch a lesson in self-confidence--Chicken certainly does.

Reviewer: Grace McKinney | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2020

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Laugh Reader series. In the first two entries of this high-energy, giggle-inducing beginning-reader series, a ragtag group of animals tries to stop a nuisance in the garden (Pest) and figure out what is after them (Chasing). Bold words in the text and speech balloons helpfully emphasize inflection when reading. Digital illustrations with thick lines and bright colors are expressive and funny. Review covers these Ready-to-Laugh Reader titles: There's a Pest in the Garden! and What Is Chasing Duck?

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) K-3 Ready-to-Laugh Reader series. In the first two entries of this high-energy, giggle-inducing beginning-reader series, a ragtag group of animals tries to stop a nuisance in the garden (Pest) and figure out what is after them (Chasing). Bold words in the text and speech balloons helpfully emphasize inflection when reading. Digital illustrations with thick lines and bright colors are expressive and funny. Review covers these Ready-to-Laugh Reader titles: There's a Pest in the Garden! and What Is Chasing Duck?

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) PS Readers of this counting book with a twist will laugh at the silliness as Pig helps friends make soup with various inedible items including umbrellas and galoshes. After every few additions a refrain asks dubiously, "Is that wise, Pig?" Cartoonish illustrations coupled with humorous dialogue should make this a read-aloud favorite.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) PS The Easter Bunny demonstrates how to make Easter eggs with the help of his assistant, Skunk. Unfortunately, when Skunk gets excited he emits his odoriferous trademark smell. Heavy black lines complement the bold color illustrations; the use of word bubbles in this book will produce a lot of laughs at storytime. Directions for making Easter eggs are appended.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) PS A cowboy wants to sing two cows to sleep, but he keeps getting spooked--by a "spider" (it's a flower), by a "snake" (it's a stick), etc. The humor value of a would-be fearless cowboy's true scaredy-cat nature knows no age limit. Simple but fully realized cartoon art amuses to the last page (guess who sleeps with a teddy bear?).

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS "This will be GREAT!" exclaims Duck when he finds a pumpkin. He excitedly begins carving a jack-o'-lantern but lands himself in trouble when he falls headfirst into the hollowed-out gourd. Pig and Mouse assume that their pumpkin-covered friend stumbling about is a "Pumpkin Monster," and utter panic ensues. Thomas's expressive, boldly colored illustrations will delight preschoolers--as will the clever ending.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) PS Three goofy cows jump on Chicken's red sofa. He objects, so instead they decide to dance on it. Again he objects, and so on. Thomas delivers laughs, with the tantrum-throwing "adult" animal and the persistent silliness for silliness's sake. The sofa--the spare cartoony illustrations' only prop--is used to great effect.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) PS A party-pooping bully offers obnoxious commentary about the other dust bunnies' (Rhyming Dust Bunnies) language games. He's all smiles, however, after they save him from a fat cat. With some practice, the energetic text has great read-aloud potential (lots of back-and-forth shouting!). Thomas's goofy characters, composed of solid, bright colors and thick black lines, will delight preschoolers.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) PS The ladybug narrator in this interactive story speaks directly to the audience ("Pretend you have a tiny bug on your nose. WIGGLE IT OFF!"), leading children through a series of directions that encourage participation right from the start. In the digital illustrations, the thickly outlined ladybug and frog characters seem to hop right off the bright pages.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) PS Dust bunnies Ed, Ted, and Ned are frustrated by Bob's apparent inability to rhyme ("No, Bob...'LOOK OUT!' does not rhyme with bug"). But Bob is actually warning them of danger: a broom-wielding (human) monster. The goofiness of both the speech-bubble text and illustrations in solid, bright colors with thick black lines will make preschoolers giggle while they're correcting Bob's "errors."

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(3) PS As Cow's birthday approaches, Pig and Mouse set out to make her "the best birthday cake EVER!" Their ideas differ from Duck's, who persistently tries to include a turnip in the cake. In the end, it's the turnip that excites Cow more than the beautiful cake. The vibrant thick-lined illustrations are made up of simple shapes set against monochromatic backgrounds.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(2) PS Mouse, Cow, Pig, and Duck's ball bounces into a menacing-looking doghouse. "Who will get it out?" Mouse sends in Cow, then Pig, then Duck--none of whom returns. When a gruff-looking dog appears, Mouse assumes the worst. Thick black outlines, solid color blocks, and easily read facial expressions will work well for storytimes and have preschoolers rolling in the aisles.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008

(3) PS Fearing that Fat Cat will sit upon one of them, mouse, cow, chicken, pig, and dog are greatly relieved when he accepts a chair for his generous bulk. The question then becomes: "What will Fat Cat have for lunch?" Blocky, bold-outlined illustrations and repetitive minimal text will have kids laughing out loud.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden