CHICKEN IN SCHOOL

Fresh from an adventure in space (Chicken in Space, 2016), Zoey the chicken this time helps her pig, Sam, achieve his dream of attending school.

Of course, a makeshift classroom in the barn with Zoey as the teacher isn’t exactly what Sam had in mind, but as long as there’s snack, he’s in. Clara the cow is as pessimistic as ever, but studious, glasses-wearing Pip the mouse is looking forward to reading, and artistic Henry the dog to coloring. But Zoey’s lessons are rather unconventional: books are for “building imagination,” and crayons are for “creating adventures.” Kober’s digital illustrations show a castle made of books for the former, and for the latter, the accessorized students pose in front of crayon-drawn backdrops depicting space, a circus, and a pirate ship. Zoey’s next direction leaves both Clara and Sam up in arms: math simply cannot be skipped, nor can snack, even if the alternative is recess. Clara saves the day with an addition problem involving pies, and Zoey pitches in a real pie to satisfy Sam, and all agree that school is the best…because they are together. The animals’ postures and expressive faces are great fun, especially practical Clara’s, and the other three students throw themselves wholeheartedly into the fun.

What will this quirky chicken plan next? (Picture book. 3-7)