Chicken Little

Chicken Little
by Sallly Hobson
1994
0-671-89548-6

When an acorn falls from a tree and stikes Chicken Little on the head, he hurries to tell the king that "The sky is falling!"  Along the way, Chicken Little meets lots of animal friends including Henny Penny and Cocky Locky, who each join Chicken Little on his journey.  When they meet Foxy Loxy, he tricks them all into following him into his lair, where he eats them and they are never heard from again.

***This story does not have a happy ending.  The animals all perish, save the fox.  What lesson does "Chicken Little" offer small children?  Why has Hobson chosen to present the original story in this way?  I believe the book is useful in introducing children to dangers in the world like predators.  We can use this book to discuss important themes like the dangers of following others blindly and not thinking about outcomes first, before bad things happen.

This is a difficult book, but I see merit in its frankness and see it as having important lessons to discuss.

The Things I Can Do

"The Things I Can Do"
by Jeff Mack
2013
978-1-59643-675-6

This kid is amazing.  He can comb his own hair, choose his own clothes, tell you a story, and run really fast.  Little Jeff is proud of his ability to do things; proud of his independence as a little boy.

The best part is the book's artwork: a collage of scraps of paper, clear tape, masking tape, string, stickers--whatever Jeff Mack had lying around.  Little Jeff is illustrated roughly in crayon and the book looks like a child created it.  It's really fun to look at and kids will be interested, and hopefully attempt to create their own book in the style of "The Things I Can Do".