Chico the Brave

PreS-Gr 1—Chico, a yellow chick in Peru, fears everything, including his own shadow. To boost his courage, his father tells him the story of the Golden Chicken, a superbird who takes care of all troubles. Chico heads to the tallest mountain where the legend allegedly lives, determined to learn what makes him so brave. Along the way, he meets three unruly llamas, who gladly direct him while covertly mocking his outrageous tale. Chico reaches the peak to find nothing but a mighty wind that blasts him across the sky. He's spotted by the town-terrorizing llamas, who assume that he's the Golden Chicken and flee forever. The chickens laud their hero with the titular name. Horowitz's story is full of visual puns; Chico's parents have a framed photo of an egg on their end table. The large acrylic and black pencil on vellum artwork are effective for group sharing. The bright colors complement the cartoon characters, from Chico's conical beak and spindly legs to the llamas' woolly coats. The little bird's terrifying climb is reflected in a spread showing the snow-covered Andes. Endpapers of Peruvian weavings also lend the opportunity for cultural conversation.—Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA