THE SKY IS FALLING!
adapted by Betty Miles & illustrated by Cynthia Fisher
In this entry in the Ready-To-Read series, Miles retells a cumulative folktale in language that beginning readers can tackle. She opts for the rhyming versions of the characters' names: Chicken Licken, Ducky Lucky, Henny Penny, Goosey Loosey, Turkey Lurkey, and Foxy Loxy. Once Chicken Licken gets bonked on the head by a falling apple, the witless hysteria spreads right on cue, until Foxy Loxy heralds them with the real story. They decide to make an apple pie, and an apple pie song is included. It's a good bouncy story for early readers, with lots of repetition and simple rhyming for aid and encouragement. Fisher's illustrations turn the motley flock of well-meaning dimwits into quite a lovable bunch. (Picture book. 5-8)