MINERVA LOUSIE AT THE FAIR

Stoeke’s (A Friend For Minerva Louise, 1997, etc.) inquisitive chicken returns for another adventure when she visits a nearby fair. With a smile on her beak, the nosy hen ambles off to investigate the loud noises disrupting the evening serenity at her farm: “BOOM! That’s not a cricket. BOOM!” Preschoolers are in for a treat, getting to see a country fair through the naïve chicken’s eyes: to Minerva Louise, fireworks are stars falling from the sky, and the Ferris wheel is a star-bedecked bulldozer. Humor abounds as the inimitable chicken ambles past game booths, the mirrored fun house, and the carousel. Whimsical puns are just right for pint-sized audiences; Minerva thinks the stuffed-animal prizes at the booth are “stuffy old roosters” and that the gourd-judging tent is filled with sleeping hens. Exhausted from her meanderings, Minerva Louise searches for the hen house for a nice little nap. Settling in with some rabbits, she awakes the next morning to discover her owner joyfully hugging her. The pictures tell the real story . . . Minerva had settled herself into the judging tent and has won the blue ribbon denoting first place. Brief sentences combined with gentle humor and large, bright illustrations are ideal for read-aloud sessions. Despite being simply drawn, Minerva Louise radiates oodles of charm. This latest escapade is a delight both for newcomers and those already familiar with the plucky hen. (Picture book. 2-6)