Children’s Book Review: Little Chicken Duck
Little Chicken Duck By Tim Beiser Illustrated by Bill Slavin Ages 3-7
If you’re a baby robin afraid of the rain, you might miss out on a tasty, wormy treat. If you’re an owlet afraid of the dark, you might miss out on playtime. And if you’re a nervous duckling afraid you’ll sink in water, well, you can bet there’s something you’re missing out on, too. In Tim Beiser’s and Bill Slavin’s Little Chicken Duck, Ducky and Froggie discover that, while it’s normal to be afraid of things you don’t understand, great rewards can come from rising above those fears.
Earth-toned acrylic backgrounds and vibrant avian plumage adorn the pages of this tale of community and growth. Beiser uses rhyming stanzas to convey the childhood fears of the assorted fowl, and Slavin frames their stories using an effective, simple border. Kids will appreciate how each bird overcomes their fears, discovering something new about their world. They might even recognize some birds from their own backyard. While the rhythm is at times uneven and Duck’s moment of self-discovery is muddled by that of another character, rhymes will engage beginning readers as they work to predict what comes next.
Little Chicken Duck is a story that highlights community diversity and unity. It connects characters together as they acknowledge that triumphing over childhood fears can lead to growth, understanding, and ultimately – as Ducky and Froggie discover – friendship.
Jen Bailey teaches in the Professional Writing Program at Algonquin College, Ottawa. She holds an MFA in Writing from VCFA, and writes for children and young adults.
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