Too Many Chickens

Joan Buchanan is a writer, storyteller and instructor, and author of
Taking Care of My Cold.

Anyone who has ever kept male and female guppies or gerbils will
immediately respond to the dilemma of Too Many Chickens. In this case,
what starts as a simple egg-incubating science project for Mrs. Kerr’s
class soon turns into chaos. Michael Alexander is the first to become
totally frazzled when the farmer forgets to pick up the hatched chicks
and they take over the classroom. Ever practical, Mrs. Kerr and the
children gather and sell the eggs until the farmer returns to pick up
the chickens. Grateful for the care her brood has received, the farmer
presents the class with soft, furry male and female bunnies. Michael
Alexander’s shuddering response is humorous and predictable.

The problems of animal overpopulation at school should interest and
delight four- to seven-year-olds. The fast pace and exaggerated tone is
a departure from Bourgeois’s successful Franklin the Turtle series. In
Too Many Chickens, she uses repetition of words and phrases to help
build the action to a crescendo. The ending fits the pattern and is
great fun.

Bill Slavin’s slightly askew shapes and imperfect bodies contribute
to the book’s general zaniness. The book is sturdily bound and will
withstand the passing from child to child it most likely will receive.