CHICKS AND SALSA

A Southwestern cooking show spied through the farmhouse window inspires a rooster weary of the same-old same-old to plan a farmyard fiesta with filched garden tomatoes, chiles, cilantro and other produce. With a rodent syndicate supplying the chips for the salsa, the cheese for the nachos, the avocados for the “quackamole” and the requisite sombreros, the stage is set. Bogan’s big cartoon scenes capture the increasing excitement, as well as the general bliss brought on by plenty of pre-fiesta snacking. Alas, it all comes to naught, though, as the produce is suddenly appropriated by the farmer’s wife for County Fair tamales. Still, three recipes in the back, a cutout poster attached to the jacket, plus a new venture by the rooster into French cuisine, compensate, at least in part, for the downer ending. Olé! (Picture book. 6-8)