Hen hears a juicy bit of gossip in the barnyard and can’t wait to tell someone. Of course, as each animal tells another, the information becomes more and more distorted. When the story makes its rounds and comes back to Hen, she discovers that it is now being said that she is “lazy, fat, and ate all the corn.” Determined to prove her innocence, she works with the other animals to check out the veracity of each variation. Even the attempts to set the record straight get everyone mixed up. McDonald has a light touch, employing language that is simple and direct, and the bits of transmogrifying gossip are delightfully absurd. Kim’s mixed-media illustrations take the form of bright, childlike and appropriately goofy cartoons that incorporate lots of eye-catching patterns and designs, and even a hidden message. This gentle lesson about the insidious nature of gossip will be understood by all but the very youngest readers, who can enjoy it just for fun. (Picture book. 3-6)
