Chicken in Space

by Adam Lehrhaupt, Shahar Kober (Illustrator)

Overview

Zoey isn’t like the other chickens. She has dreams. She has plans. And she has a best friend, Sam the pig, who will join her on her wild adventures . . . if he gets to eat some pie along the way.

How will Zoey and Sam get from the barn to the stars? Will Zoey be the first chicken in space? Will Sam get a snack? One thing is certain: Zoey always finds a way.

Author Adam Lehrhaupt and illustrator Shahar Kober bring out-of-this-world energy and humor to this bright, funny tale of imagination, friendship, determination . . . and one truly adventurous chicken.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062364128
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	05/17/2016
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	238,852
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Adam Lehrhaupt is an award-winning author who has traveled to six continents, performed on Broadway, and lived on a communal farm. Adam currently lives near Philadelphia with his wife, two sons, and two crazy dogs. Visit him at www.adamlehrhaupt.com.

Shahar Kober is an illustrator and art director based in Israel. Shahar holds a degree in design and now teaches illustration for animation. His favorite projects often include adventurous animals. You can visit him online at www.skober.com.

Editorial Reviews

03/07/2016
Zoey, a headstrong and imaginative chicken with an aviator cap, persuades a pig named Sam to fly into space with her on a “ship” that’s really a basket tied to a bunch of helium balloons. The basket actually gains some altitude, and the view Kober (The Flying Hand of Marco B.) provides—a Grant Wood–esque landscape at sunset—really is magical; the story itself seems to hover for a moment to let readers take it in. Close encounters with a baseball (“An asteroid!” says Zoey in full pretend-play mode), a kite (“A comet”), and a flock of birds (“Alien attack ships”) send the basket back to Earth. Back at the barnyard, Sam recounts the adventure to their fellow barnyard animals and gives Zoey all the credit, noting that she “always finds a way.” Lehrhaupt’s (Please, Open This Book!) nonjudgmental tone is a breath of fresh air, and while the ending is lackadaisical, it’s a pleasure to spend time with an intrepid character who gets to see her goofy dreams through. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates. (May)

Publishers Weekly

04/01/2016
PreS-Gr 2—An intrepid chicken and her hungry pig pal set off on an imaginary adventure. After some planning, Zoey, a take-charge hen sporting an aviator hat and goggles, decides it's time to travel into outer space. She asks the other farm animals to come along, but only Sam the pig takes her up on the offer, though what he really wants is a pie. To every argument brought up by naysayers, Zoey finds a positive angle. When Pip the mouse warns that the trip might be dangerous, Zoey confidently responds, "Not dangerous…. an adventure!" When Clara the cow points out that Zoey doesn't have a ship, the determined chicken declares, "Not a problem!…. an opportunity!" Finally, Sam and Zoey lift off (in a basket tied to a large bunch of balloons) and sail high over the farm. Though readers will clearly see that the pair are barely above the treetops—certainly not in space—they'll appreciate Zoey's penchant for make-believe. According to Zoey, a baseball whizzing by is an asteroid, a kite is a comet, and a flock of birds is an alien attack. Though hesitant initially, Sam eventually embraces the pretend adventure and—once they're both safely back on the ground—relays the exciting events to their farm friends. Young kids will be inspired by Zoey's can-do attitude and outsize imagination. Kober's digital illustrations feature softly shaded farm scenes with cartoon-style characters whose facial expressions and body language add humor. Creative design and placement of text, such as a gigantic "CRASH!" that appears behind the characters on their way down to Earth, create drama and make for a lively read-aloud. VERDICT A fun story for inspiring positive thinking, problem-solving, and old-fashioned imaginative play. A fine purchase for picture book collections, especially those in need of kindergarten read-alouds.—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal

School Library Journal

2016-03-02
It's hard not to admire a chicken with dreams of going into space. Moreover, this chicken has a plan—and a pig. The text is dry and concise; the characters clearly represent familiar character types. Zoey, the would-be-astronaut, is supremely self-confident, even when adjusting her "plan" on the fly. Sam, the pig, is a little concerned about going into space before lunch, especially before pie, but he believes in Zoey and will follow her anywhere. The other animals have insurmountable reservations and may even lack imagination. The dog is content with the space he's got; the mouse is too timid; the cow is too practical, pointing out that Zoey doesn't have a ship. But helium balloons tied to a basket make a fine ship, taking the doughty protagonists higher than chicken and pig have gone before. Keen-eyed observers will have already spotted the balloons in several of the matte, pastel-colored digital illustrations. As the duo gains altitude, the perspective makes a slight change from horizontals to aerials. Space is perilous. When they crash-land, Zoey and Sam tell the others tales of asteroids (a ball), comets (a kite), and aliens (birds). A moon-pie reward for Sam completes the adventure…until the next one…. What a flight of imagination. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews