CHEEKY CHICK!

Fox meets his match with Cheeky Chick.

Rhyming text in a singsong cadence pairs with art reminiscent of Paul Galdone’s style to tell this home-away-from-home farm story. Four of Mother Hen’s little chicks heed her warning to “play near the hen-house” and to run away if Fox comes by, but the fifth, Cheeky Chick, replies, “Tosh!” and “Bosh!” before continuing to ignore Mother Hen and wandering far indeed. Other barnyard animals step up to act in loco parentis, warning Cheeky Chick of hazards and voicing concerns. He ignores them, however, and ultimately confronts Fox. Visual perspective zooms in at that point, with all background detail omitted as the focus is placed on a large, toothsome fox’s face leering down at the tiny chick. On the following page, the layout is used to terrific effect as the perspective zooms out to an aerial view and shows a chase scene across four panels. Cheeky Chick scurries away, with Fox in hot pursuit, as they pass all the erstwhile helpers who tried and failed to warn the young chicken. Ultimately Fox gets his comeuppance when Cheeky Chick lives up to his name and leads Fox to a dunk in the pond before heading home under a duck’s watchful eye.

Three cheers for this unlikely but intrepid hero.