Best and Dearest Chick of All

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

After nearly giving up hope of having a chick, a hen and a rooster
finally become the proud parents of “Cheep-Cheep.” When the hen is
killed by a hawk, the rooster remarries and sires another chick, upon
whom the stepmother hen bestows a 21-word name, part of which is “Best
and Dearest Chick of All.” Cheep-Cheep is made to do most of the work
by his wicked stepmother, while the new chick is spoiled and indulged.
Retribution for this unfair treatment strikes in the form of the fox,
who carries the chick away before his parents are able to appeal to the
larger barnyard animals for help. The story ends abruptly when
Cheep-Cheep rescues his half-brother. We are not told whether
Cheep-Cheep’s parents are grateful and treat him more fairly now, or
whether the half-brother turns over a new leaf and becomes more
responsible. In the absence of such consequences, the story fails to
deliver the expected moral punchline. Given the author’s almost rigid
adherence to classic fairy-tale patterns in other respects, this
omission is glaring. Not recommended.