Chicken Soup (by Jean Van Leeuwen)

CHICKEN SOUP is an adorable book, but it might not be the best choice for all kids. For families whose diets include poultry, this book might inspire some interesting conversations about where meat comes from. Also, sensitive kids might get a little too caught up in Little Chickie's dilemma, especially since the suspense builds like a horror movie for preschoolers: The Farmer gets closer and closer while Little Chickie scurries for a hiding place, abandoned by the older chickens who are more concerned about their own necks than they are for the most vulnerable among them. In short, parents who know their kids don't do well with tension might want to skip to the last page before going back to read the book.

There's not much to the pictures, which are fine but fairly indistinguishable from any number of farmyard books.