The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County

By Janice Harrington

Illustrated by Shelley Jackson

Most enjoyed by Preschool through 3rd grade

There are three things our narrator likes to do to start her day - eat breakfast, tell her mama stories, and chase chickens. She has one favorite chicken who is tough to catch. No matter how the little girl tries to outsmart her, that chicken runs away fast. But one day, that ole chicken cannot be found. Where could she be hiding? As the little girl hunts for it, she discovers that the chicken has a very good reason for hiding. Can you guess what it might be?

This is one story you don't want to read silently. It begs to be read aloud. There's lots of squawking and prucking so don't save this one for bedtime. The illustrations in 'The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County' add to the fun. Part collage, part drawing, they give a helter-skelter feel to the pages, much like the chickens who run here and there when chased. The illustrations remind us that we don't have to draw every picture in the stories we write. Pictures from magazines and newspapers can be added to our drawings to help tell our stories.

'The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County' is a candidate for the 2009 Monarch award. Zion's Kindergarten through 3rd grade students will be reading the Monarch candidates and voting for their favorite in February. Each year when we read the Monarch candidates, we always find one or two stories that quickly become new favorites. This one is sure to be added to our list!