Book Review: High Seas & Big Top Chicken Adventures

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken by Kate DiCamillo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If anyone could imbue a chicken with a personality worthy of an epic journey it would be Kate DiCamillo, but even she may not quite be up to such a challenge.  However, although Louise may not have the personality of Gollie, Mercy, or Despereaux, her tale is just as charming.  And really, should we expect any author to truly see into the soul of a chicken?

Louise yearns for the adventures that we all regularly encounter our dreams.  Since she is actually living out those dreams, when she returns home she is able to sleep "the deep and dreamless and peaceful sleep of true adventurers."  The excitement of each chapter ends with that rhythmically written image of peaceful sleep, including the epilogue-like final chapter, making this a good bedtime story read in pieces or in its entirety.

As a picture book, there is plenty of visual context to support an ELL in understanding the words.  This is particularly important when the story has several severe breaks from the normal A to B to C progression of a simple tale.  A chicken on a farm - no, on a ship under attack by pirates - no, auditioning for a circus.  It would be reasonable for an English language learner to doubt their own understanding with a tale like this. (The unusual use of chapters will also help readers come to terms with the shifts in narrative.)

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