Mavis the Bravest

by Lu Fraser, Sarah Warburton (Illustrator)

Overview

This is a laugh out loud story about a bonnet wearing, would-rather-be-knitting chicken who embarks on a high stakes chase to save her friend, Sandra the sheep.

Mavis is not like her adventurous friend Marge. Mavis is a chicken who finds EVERYTHING scary (night-time and daytime and anything hairy!). So when the slumbering peace of their cozy barn is disturbed by someone trying to steal their friend Sandra the sheep, will Mavis be able to find her bright spark of braveness and save Sandra?

With a tractor, a lasso, and a lot of hen-durance, Mavis might just have what it takes to be the hero the barn needs.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250376619
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	53 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Lu Fraser is a prolific picture book author who's written titles such as The Littlest Yak (illustrated by Kate Hindley) which won the Sainsbury's Children's Book of the Year award and The Viking Who Liked Icing (illustrated by Mark McKinley) which was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Award. She lives in the south of England with her husband & daughter & their much-hugged Beagle & Great Dane.

Sarah Warburton is an established artist whose books include Dinosaurs in the Supermarket (written by Timothy Knapman), The Princess and the Peas (written by Caryl Hart), and the Twinkle books (written by Katharine Holabird), as well as One Camel Called Doug, with author Lu Fraser. She has an uncanny ability to capture huge amounts of charm, humor, and detail in her work. She lives in Bristol, England.

Editorial Reviews

"This is an excellent story time addition that supports social-emotional development through the lens of a cautious chicken." – School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher

2024-01-20
Knitting and bravery go hand in hand in this poultry-rife ode to locating the courage within.

Mavis? She’s never claimed to be the bravest chicken in the barn. That honor goes to her friend Marge, who urges Mavis to seek out the wide world beyond their safe little yard. But Mavis, snug with her knitting, is happy to stick with what she already knows. After all, to her, everything seems scary. “Nighttime…and daytime…and anything HAIRY! / LOUD things and FAST things and anything WHIZZY!” But when a thief makes off with Sandra the sheep, Mavis finds a well of courageousness inside of herself that she never knew she had. The theft of Sandra doesn’t make a great deal of sense except as a necessary plot point; indeed, it’s the weakest element of an otherwise enjoyable paean to inner strength. Really, though, it’s Mavis’ heroic knitting that’s the savior of the day, and Warburton’s charming art renders both the crafting and the barnyard denizens with equal aplomb (her chickens sport charming knitted tops and colorful handkerchief headwear). The gentle rhyming text comes close to cloying didacticism but remains steady throughout. Both farmer and thief present as white.

Evildoers beware! This little chicken is finding her pluck and inspiring kids everywhere to do the same. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews