``Here comes Henny/with her sacky,/which she carries/pickabacky/back and forth/and forth and backy./See her pick pick pick/a snicky./See her pack pack pack/a snacky./See her put/a snicky-snacky/in her backpack/picnic sacky.'' So begins the tale of a hen whose three chicks, far from pleased with her provisions, prefer--in fact, ``DEMAND''--``A snacky-snicky/for the chickies'/picnic-nicky.'' No problem. Henny eats the whole snicky-snacky herself and settles down for a nap. Then, agreeing that they've been ``too picky,'' the hungry chicks pack a snacky- snicky (remarkable in its similarity to the snicky-snacky) for their own picnic. Children will delight in the intricate interplay of sounds, the rhythms playfully mimicking the movements of chickens, and the occasional dramatic ``Cluck!'' or ``No!'' that punctuates them. Parker's mixed-media illustrations have a wide-eyed simplicity, adding greatly to the fun. Try this with a toddler who enjoys chanting Mother Goose, or give it to new readers as an unusually diverting way to polish their phonics. (Picture book. 2-7)
