Review by Booklist Review
Zelda, a farmyard chicken, hatches a plan to be the first chicken in outer space. Like Zoey in Adam Lehrhaupt's Chicken in Space (2016), Zelda solicits help from others. Unlike Zoey, Zelda only interacts with other chickens, gets no takers, goes it alone, and actually does travel to outer space. When Zelda returns back to the farm, she is a celebrity among the chickens, with those who refused to help her now bragging about being asked. Zelda enjoyed her space travel but did find it lonely. The final illustration pictures Zelda speculating about a follow-up trip: traveling in her rocket while towing the other chickens in a camping trailer. Zelda's story is told well through its brief, straightforward text and sumptuous illustrations, which convey all of Zelda's frustration and determination. Rich, crisp, bright colors permeate each scene. The technology, especially a rocket right out of Flash Gordon and a Streamline camper, give off a '50s vibe. Originally published in Australia, this plucky chicken's space travel story will resonate well with American audiences.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
Zelda dreams of being "the first chicken in space." Like the Little Red Hen's, Zelda's friends spurn her queries for help, but her independent research, engineering savvy, and weightlessness-training allow her dream to come true. McG's illustrations, shaded and highlighted for a three-dimensional look, add cartoony expressiveness to this satisfying tale of can-do pluck and a flight of fancy. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Zelda is a hen with a plan: "to be the first chicken in space." Zelda has already built her spaceship, planned the experiments she'll carry out in space, and trained for weightlessness (by suspending herself from a tree limb). Now, all she needs is a little help from her friends. Walter the rooster won't help with her spacesuit (he doesn't sew!). Mike is too busy to help with the heat shielding. And Bella the hen does not "do DIY," so she can't help with the control panel. Zelda goes it alone; despite some difficulty counting backward at countdown, she blasts off into space! After a successful mission of weighing stardust and counting planets, she returns home to find that her friends claim partial credit for her success. Zelda's not fazedin fact, the stars were lonely; she plans to take some company on her next astral adventure. Australian duo Alafaci and McG have crafted a space-age "Little Red Hen" (who is white here), and even those who know the traditional tale will admire Zelda's pluck and forgiving nature. McG's burnished illustrations in a muted palette, full of barnyard tech and expressive chickens, pair well with Alafaci's straightforward text. A tale of plucky poultry sure to inspire those who are afraid they may be too chicken to follow their dreams. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
