Peepsqueak!

Peepsqueak doesn’t just hatch slowly like the other chicks; he bursts out of his shell, dressed and ready to go in a red “P.S.” T-shirt. From the instant his feet hit the ground, he is “on the move!” and determined to fly, despite Yellow Ducks and Big Sheep’s warnings that he is too little for such an activity. He jumps—up, up, up!—off a stone wall, a round hill, and a big rock; but, alas, he falls down, down, down each time. Luckily, Old Grey Goose knows just how to solve Peepsqueak’s problems and lifts him airborne on his back—high, high, high. Debut author-illustrator Clark’s sweet cartoon illustrations bring Peepsqueak’s farm to cheerful life, and the simple words repeated throughout are perfect for the intended audience. As an added bonus, a tiny shorts-and-T-shirt-clad mouse is tucked away on most spreads, making for a fun seek-and-find game. Young children will enjoy this read-aloud and relate to the chick’s valiant attempts to prove everybody wrong. Preschool-Kindergarten. --Ann Kelley