Chicken Little (My First Fairy Tales)

PreS-Gr 1--Alperin presents two stories in her fairy-tale series that every preschooler should remember. Each book is told in a straightforward and standard manner, using the familiar plot and the common refrains "Little pig, little pig, let me in!...Not by the hairs on my chinny-chin-chin!" and "The sky is falling!" Even the musical rhyming names Ducky Lucky, Henny Penny, and Turkey Lurkey are ready to be repeated again and again. In addition, the author provides plenty of sound effects for reading aloud ("tip-tip-tap," "heave-heave-ho"). A delicious assortment of vocabulary-stretching words describe the action in the plot as well ("plodded on," "scurried"). Each cartoon illustration shines (for instance, Jatkowska's blustery scene of the wolf blowing down the house of sticks, or East's dark spread of Foxy Loxy lighting a candle and stating, "It's almost time for dinner."). Many pages employ a variety of perspectives, creatively showing the plot action for young attention spans. The font size is large enough for prereaders to follow along. VERDICT These editions are serviceable for preschool collections yet will probably be supplemental to the many other excellent hardcover versions already on library shelves.--Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA