Chicken in the Kitchen

Review By JESSICA ALMY

Uh oh, I thought when I first viewed this title in our local library.  I’m going to hate this book. Happily, I soon discovered that no harm comes to the chicken in Tony Johnston and Eleanor Taylor’s silly book.  When she invades the dog’s kitchen, the canine doesn’t so much as shoo her out.  He tries to feed her, he listens to her heart with a stethoscope to make sure she’s OK, and he even goes so far as to chop up his broom to create nesting materials for her.  So far, so good.

Before long, however, the chicken brings the straw from the broom into the kitchen and it’s obvious that she’s going to lay some eggs.  OK, here’s where it all will fall apart, the vegan voice inside me chimed.  The dog’s going to fry up her eggs. But no!  The dog watches patiently as the hen nests, and when chicks hatch from the eggs, his reaction is this: “How my heart quickens — a whole kitchen full of chickens!”

This delightful book is a steal on Amazon ($1.89 + shipping, last I checked).  It would make a nice addition to any vegetarian kid’s bookshelf.

Ages 4-8.