A New Chick for Chickies: Janee Trasler

Book: A New Chick for Chickies
Author: Janee Trasler
Pages: 24
Age Range: 1-4 (padded board book)

My daughter and I quite like Janee Trasler's Chickies series (the previous books are Pottytime for Chickies, Bedtime for Chickies, and Dinnertime for Chickies). Therefore, we were both happy when the newest book in the series, A New Chick for Chickies, arrived. In this installment, the three Chickies have a pretty good life with their three adult caregivers, Cow, Sheep, and Pig.

Everything changes when a new baby brother Chick arrives. Chick immediately starts stealing the adults' attention. Patiently and cheerfully, however, each adult shows the Chickies how having another Chick on-hand will actually improve things. For example, when they protest the new Chick dancing with Pig, Pig says: 

"Don't be worried.
This is fine.
Now we have a conga line."

A New Chick for Chickies is thus a very simple, age-appropriate treatment of the insecurities that toddlers may have when a younger sibling arrives. Like the other books in the series, A New Chick for Chickies consists of short, rhyming sentences accompanied by cheerful, silly illustrations. To be sure, the Chickies look rather grouchy in much of the book, but their caregivers are always able to coax them into a smile. And the end of the book, in which a whole host of other chicks are born, is sure to entertain young readers. 

A New Chick for Chickies is a welcome addition to this series of padded board books. Though the Chickie books are clearly meant for toddlers and early preschoolers, my four-year-old has been resisting passing ours along to her younger cousins, because she loves them so much. This series would make a great first birthday gift for any child, and would be welcome under the Christmas tree for preschoolers. 

Publisher: HarperFestival (@HarperChildrens) 
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Source of Book: Review copy from the publisher

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