Little Chick

by Amy Hest, Anita Jeram (Illustrator)

The creators of the  New York Times  bestselling  Kiss Good Night  offer a trio of gentle tales about a special intergenerational bond.

Little Chick may be a good and patient gardener, as Old-Auntie observes, but what if you simply can’t wait for your carrot to grow tall? What if you skip like a pro but still can’t lift your kite in the air? Or if you’re a really good stretcher but can’t reach your favorite star? With affection and humor, Amy Hest offers three vignettes about a curious chick and a loving auntie who knows how to soften disappointments by keeping the spark of wonder alive. And the incomparable Anita Jeram renders Little Chick’s gestures and movements with a mastery that captures the spirit of every young child.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Fiction, Birds, Storytime, Family

56 pages, Hardcover

First published February 24, 2009

About the author

Amy Hest is a three-time winner of the Christopher Medal and winner of the BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Award. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Todd]

As far as a gentle picture book, this was mildly successful. Anita Jeram's illustrations are always pleasant.

However, Amy Hest has been much better than this group of stories. The first of the three stories, "The Carrot that Would Not Grow", is the most problematic. While I generally do not agree that books encourage readers to mimic behaviors, Little Chick's actions in this story are fairly unconscionable. The author's disregard for teaching patience, as Little Chick is encouraged by her Old-Auntie to pull out a carrot while it is still small, is bizarre. The theme of waiting for a bigger payoff is completely lost. The words border on ecological malfeasance. I would not recommend this book to young readers.

[Rose Rosetree]

How thrilling to find a chapter book that is also a picture book! This time Amy Hest is giving us three stories about Little Chick. Included are winsome, tender illustrations by Anita Jeram.

Accompanying Little Chick in each of the stories... is wise Old Auntie. Always, she knows just what to say, just what to do.

In all three chapters, this wise one is the bringer of happy endings. A gentle, spiritual wisdom imbues each of these teaching tales.

FIVE STARS, enthusiastically!

Thank you, Amy and Anita.

[Ashley]

Pretty illustrations but the collection of 3 stories were just ok. If it weren't for the final story, The Kite That Would Not Fly, I probably would have given the book 2 stars. My daughter loved the last story about a leaf kite that little chick has trouble getting to fly. For some reason it had her laughing and cheering little chick on.

[Sabrina]

Beautiful watercolor illustrations by Anita Jeram

[Kristen Thorp]

138/365

[Lara Bate]

The book I read was Little Chick by Suzanne Fossey. A good story to teach children about the lifecycle of a chicken.

[Ella]

We read the book "Little Chick" (no author) which was about the natural world e.g., how a chick learns to fly etc.

[Tasha]

This is a picture book that creates a world with just a few words, great characters, and wonderful illustrations. Little Chick has three stories in this book. One involves a small carrot, the second a stubborn kite and the third the wonder of stars. Hest works with repetition that links all three stories together as well as a gentle style that is happy and warm. The two characters of Little Chick and Old-Auntie (a big hen) are classic and yet fresh here. The relationship between the two is lovely to read as Old-Auntie understands Little Chick and gently guides her to try another way.

Hest has just the right amount of text here which is presented in a nice big font. The book reads aloud well and though it has three stories in it is the length and size of a regular picture book. Jeram’s illustrations are light, energetic and simply delightful. They capture the vivacious little bird, the security and stature of the hen, and the beauty of garden, hillside and night while retaining their fresh light approach.

The perfect spring book, these stories are classic, gentle and lovely. Appropriate for ages 3-5.

[John Parker]

The soft pastels of Anita Jeram’s watercolors make Amy Hest’s Little Chick seem a bit nostalgic and strangely familiar. The three stories included in this picture book trace a day with Little Chick and her Old-Auntie, the hen. While each story stands on its own, the set of three stories makes for a comfortable read before bed or preceding a quiet time.

Little Chick could develop into a read-aloud favorite, but it is more likely that it will be enjoyed in the company of a child and their primary caregiver. In other words, it is a sit-in-my-lap-and-read-book. The stories are constructed to highlight the relationship of a nurturing caregiver as they help a young one understand the complexities of growing a carrot, flying a kite, and catching a star.

Spring is the time for chicks, gardens, and kites. Public libraries will want to make this book available for parents. Classrooms that support parents and younger children reading together might also want to consider purchasing this book.

3 out of 5

John Parker
Media Coordinator
Andrews High School
50 HS Drive
Andrews, NC 28901

www.slamguy.wordpress.com

[Cricket Muse]

These three warm stories about Little Chick are all about how she wants things to happen and doesn’t understand why they don’t. She learns all about growing a tall carrot, or skipping fast to fly her kite, or reaching for a favorite star. It’s a good thing Old Auntie is there with her encouraging words and advice. Amy Hest and Anita Jeram’s bright picture book is pleasing in presentation, both visually and through its text.

Little Chick embraces the now that most young children live in. Without resulting to tantrums or frustration, Little Chick shows her frustration of not getting what she wants. Old Auntie doesn’t so much provide the solution as she gives encouragement, allowing Little Chick to come to a resolve on her own. The relationship between Little Chick and Old Auntie is reminiscent of the two rabbits in Guess How Much I Love You? which is also illustrated by Jeram. The large illustrations and text provide a sense of old-fashioned storytelling. The lesson of patience and encouragement is subtle, and the combination of youthful exasperation coupled with ageless wisdom comes through well.

[Amy]

GORGEOUS! And the stories are beautiful too- sort of in the vein of the Little Bear series- no, not that little bear (Will you take this kiss to mother bear?), the other little bear.
(Once there were two bears, Big Bear and Little Bear. Big Bear was the big bear, and Little Bear was the little bear.)*

Little chick is accompanied by her Old Auntie, which means it scores some additional points for representing family in another light than mom and pop and kiddo.

Did I mention the pictures are gorgeous?

*Ok fine. Reminds me of the Barbara Firth, Martin Wadell Little Bear books. And I have the entirety of "Can't you sleep, Little Bear" memorized. Invite me over for a beer and a recitation.

[Jessy]

I really liked the blend of water color and pencil drawing in the book. It may have not been cutting edge drawings but I think it would do the job of drawing a student's attention. I think this book is best for grades k-2 due to the length of the stories. I feel like older students would want to hear longer stories since there are three short ones in this book.

I think this book would be best used as a way to encourage students because they can see the accomplishments that this little chick makes.

[Karla]

I love the relationship between the Little Chick and Old-Auntie, the hen. Nice to see a young/old relationship that isn't about grandparents ~ can celebrate the other elders in a child's life. Each story stands on its own merits, but each complements the others for a lovely collection. Each of the three chapters could be read separately in a storytime. Darling illustrations by Anita Jeram who illustrated Guess How Much I Love You.

[Jessica Jackson]

A book comprised of three simple stories about Little Chick. Auntie is always around to support and encourage Little Chick, or just make observations. When Little Chick is growing a carrot, and it doesn't get very big, Auntie says, "Some carrots are big and some carrots are not." Isn't that the truth. Very soothing, short stories, a bit zen. I read it with our 3-5 year old preschoolers, and everyone loved it.

[S.j.reads]

I read this aloud to my two three-year-old girls and my older daughter (11) was home sick so she listened too. We all really enjoyed the stories and the drawings. I'm not sure why Little Chick 'had' to pull the carrot out (the only thing that bothered me and my older daughter), but the pictures are adorable and the writing is sweet. I liked how the three stories had the same kind of structure. Very enjoyable and will be reading again several times over the next couple weeks.

[Margaret Chind]

Already I have shared how much we enjoy Anita Jeram's illustrations and they are especially good in these three Little Chick stories. The font used is large and clear and just great for reading over a little shoulder in your lap. All three stories are snuggle worthy. I love all-in-one omnibus editions!

Now you can also find these great stories in board book formats. :)

[Donna]

This little chick is so darn cute. You just want to pick him up and cuddle him. Old-Auntie is a great friend. The book is actually three stories in one. My favorite is The Kite That Would Not Fly. The illustrations are so sweet you just want to be in the story. I don't know what it is with chickens lately.

[Denise]

Each of the three stories has a little lesson to offer with Old-Auntie as the voice of reason. The illustrations are nearly overpowered by the amount of text at times, however, the use of white space kind of evens things out a bit. This would work for teacher collections, not as storytime friendly though.

[Vicki]

This book has 3 short stories that could be used separately or together. I love the way the author creates a lovely and loving relationship between little chick and "Old" auntie. There are large water color type illustrations that carry through on the gentle theme that I feel when I read this book.

[Christina]

I absolutely LOVE the illustrations of this book. It contains 3 little stories. I could possibly work for story time since if you start to loose the group, you could just finish the short story you are on, or break up the stories with other activities.

[Tara]

You don't have to have the biggest to have the best. This is a good moral for children. A great beginner read. It also shows how you should care about other people. This book had three stories in it.

[Jennifer Oaks]

At first, I thought this book contained one story. Then I realized that it had three stories because it is a transitional book, which is one between a picture book and a chapter book. The theme that I got from this book is that no one is perfect and it is important to be yourself.

[Maria]

Sweet pencil and watercolor illustrations accompany three stories about Little Chick. I like that you can read the stories separately or together. I'm rather fond of the third story "The Starry Night."

[Harla]

This is one of my new favorite chicken picture books. It falls in my "sweet" category.Great story and vocabulary. Love the flow of the narrative. Illustrations are wonderful as well. Amy Hest at her best.

[Molly]

Split into three stories we find little chick trying to do several things that may be a little difficult for him but he handles the struggle well. Ages 3+

[The Library Lady]

Three sweet stories with sweet pictures. But is there any reason (aside from the usual every kid theory of anthropomorphic animals) that Little Chick IS a chick?

[Amy Brown]

Three cute stories about little chick. Good for a family read-aloud.

[Melissa]

Sweet, sweet. Three short stories. Auntie gives advice. I like these exchanges: "You are a good stretcher," said Old-Auntie. "Yes," agreed Little Chick. "I am a good stretcher."

[Marge]

three stories in one

[Susan Dunn]

So cute! Three stories about an adorable little chick and her wise old auntie. Great illustrations too.