Chicken Chickens Go to School

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 1-Having tamed fears of the playground in Chicken Chickens (North-South, 2001), Gorbachev's timid chicks are now facing their first day of school. It's no surprise that these little guys, who always speak in unison, are worried about making new friends. At first their fears seem justified because the other students are much too busy to be bothered with them. (Beaver is building a tower, Rabbit is listening, Frog is singing.) Fortunately, their teacher finds a way to bring the class together and give the chicks a much-needed boost in confidence at the same time. Though warm and engaging, Gorbachev's characteristic watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations fail to elevate the text beyond the flat and predictable. Also, children nervous about starting school will notice that this wearisome pair overlooks a clear and distinct advantage-having one another! Libraries that need more going-to-school titles could consider this an additional purchase, but Kevin Henkes's Wemberly Worried (Greenwillow, 2000) or Amy Hest's Off to School, Baby Duck (Candlewick, 2001) will have more resonance for children embarking on their new adventure.