The author of Mama, Do You Love Me? (1991) and I Love You the Purplest (1996) turns her attention to chickens in this fun barnyard romp. The story follows Banty Hen as she grows broody, nests, and lays her eggs. When they hatch, the chicks explore the farm and encounter some of its dangerous residents, including a cat, snake, and raccoon. Luckily, Banty Hen and their aunts are never far behind, and they manage to keep the chicks safe. Chrustowski's illustrations done in colorful torn-paper collages effectively capture the energy of the roaming and curious chicks. Readers will delight in counting the seven chicks on each spread and in predicting what danger might be hiding on the following page. Meanwhile, the use of repetition and sounds within the text begs for it to be heard. Author and illustrator notes explain more about chickens and also how this book came to be. A jaunty new read-aloud for the farmyard canon.--Wojahn, Rebecca Copyright 2010 Booklist

PreS-Night in the barnyard gives way to the crowing rooster. Then: "Banty hen feels.broody." She lays her eggs, waits, they hatch, run around getting into trouble, and finally night falls, leaving them safe with their mother. The story is minimal, but the pleasing sound effects and adventurous chicks testing their independence will engage young listeners. The time structure is uneven, beginning with morning and finishing at night, while leaving the time in between elastic: sometimes there are moments between pages, other times days or weeks, which may confuse the intended audience. A lovely endnote explains the factual information behind the text. Joosse is trying to impart it in an entertaining, narrative fashion, but she is only partially successful. The illustrations, on the other hand, are inspired. Using collage and colored pencil, Chrustowski imbues the images with color, life, personality, and movement. The chicks, who vary in color from black to brown to yellow, with some bicolored, look ready to jump off the page. The artist's torn-paper technique gives them a fuzzy look, and the collage provides depth and texture. The barnyard teems with life, including everything from grasshoppers to snakes to raccoons. Using close-up images, Chrustowski provides predictable elements, increasing children's engagement. An additional purchase.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Banty Hen feels broody and lays seven beautiful eggs for the Aunties to bucka-buk over. She keeps them safe and warm, and "[s]oon tiny beaks pip the shells. / Pip. / Rip! / Peek. / PEEP!" Seven fluffy, curious, energetic chicks race around the barnyard. They don't know what's dangerous and what isn't, so Banty Hen has to keep them safe. Is a cat dangerous? A snake? A raccoon? Good thing Banty Hen has the help of the Aunties, Rooster and Duck. With its onomatopoeic kaks, kuks and bucka-buks, Joosse's latest straddles the line between cartoon and natural-history narrative. There are several opportunities for short counting lessons of eggs or blue-eyed chicks as they race across the pages. Chrustowski's full-bleed collage illustrations, a departure from his usual highly saturated colored-pencil artwork, are the real standout here. The author's "How Little Chicks Grow" note at the back leaves out Rooster's part in the process but is otherwise complete; the illustrator's note discusses both his models and his methods. For larger collections or where the author's books are a draw. (Picture book. 2-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Seven freshly hatched chicks explore their world as Mama and the aunties (Bantam hens) protect them from barnyard dangers. Although this snapshot of farm life is weak on plot, the action and onomatopoeia will appeal to young listeners. Colorful collage illustrations capture the chicks' boundless energy and curiosity. An author's note describes the brooding process and the importance of a mother hen's "language." (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.