Chicksoons Should Become Early Readers

Now that the chicksoons have passed through their recent humidity crisis (see today's chick blog for details), they probably just want to kick back and relax for awhile in their eggs-travagant living quarters.  Fortunately, our Library has many interesting children's books that should intrigue both chicksoons and people patrons alike.

Sounds Like a Song is Coming Along

Here a Chick, There a Chick, by Bruce McMillan (New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books, 1983) may be out-of-print, but it remains a popular read around our Library, particularly among the little preschool folks, human ages 2-6.  The author meticulously photographed chicks at life's earliest post-eggs-isting stages, from hatching to becoming little fluffy featherballs.  Placing feed on the ground in little paths, the chicks, as they hatched, immediately found and began eating and walking where the food paths led.  McMillan photographed it all, and in his book, he used single-word opposites on each page, which described the action pictured.  This is a shrewd way to learn about opposite concepts as expressed in English, and little readers and their parents still thrill at the wonderful color photos.  The chicks are so cute!

I've Known a Few in My Time

Tough Chicks, by Cece Meng (illustrated by Melissa Suber) (New York: Clarion Books, 2009) tells the story of three independent, self-confident chicks (Penny, Polly, and Molly) who behave contrary to barnyard expectations. Little chicks are supposed to be docile, quiet, and do what they're told, but as a feline, I can assure you that I sympathize with the chicks' desire to make up their own minds for themselves.  These tiny tots are fearless and plenty smart, too.  Farmer Fred, however, was nonplussed when the trio started peeking underneath the tractor engine hood.  Hey, chicks, that's nowhere to be playing!

Later, when the tractor mysteriously stopped running, Farmer Fred decided he must push it down a hill to get it back to the barnyard.  It was a disastrous plan, and it looked like certain doom for the henhouse that lay directly in the runaway tractor's path.  Who could save the day?

Well, I didn't get to find out, because I heard my supper dish being filled (right on schedule) by the Lady With the Red Hair, so you will have to check-out the book at my Library and find out what happens.

Here are our Library's call numbers for these two chick books:

• Tough Chicks
• EASY MEN

• Here a Chick, There a Chick
• EASY MCM

Ask any of our staff if you need help finding these books.

Maybe our chicksoons will appear in one of Broadway Gal's great photo books that she writes and designs.  Tell her they deserve their own special book.  So do I, for that matter.

Bookchicks Sounds Better Than Bookworms, Which Taste Yucky, I'm Sure,

Cauli Le Chat

MPL Roving Reporter

Chicksoon News Beat

P.S.  Thinking about the chicksoons' humidity crisis reminded me of this great song by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Have You Ever Seen the Rain (1970).

Then, of course, there is Rain (1966), by the Beatles.  Plus loads of others--Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head (1969), released by B. J. Thomas (and included on the soundtrack of the 1969 movie Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid), but written by Burt Bacharach & Hal David; I Wish It Would Rain (1967, but on Billboard's charts in 1968), by the Temptations; Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again (1971), by the Fortunes; and Rainy Jane (1971), by Davy Jones (doing a leftover Monkees tune--apparently, it was too saccharine even for the Prefab Four to release [actually, the group had thinned to Jones and Micky Dolenz by around this time {1970}]).   Guess there's no harm in a few more embedded videos.  It's sure to please any of my over-50 readers (and bewilder anyone much younger).