Where Is Coco Going?
PreS–To get to her destination, a tiny chick travels by taxi, train, plane, and parachute. She dives into the ocean, bikes through Paris, bounces across the desert on camelback, and zooms into outer space. And where does she arrive after this extensive journey? At Grandma's house in the suburbs. A bit of a stretch for all but the most imaginative readers, the varied settings do not add up to a story and serve mainly as a vehicle for Tanen's whimsical dioramas. Using pom-pom chickens and detailed miniature models, the artist sets the stage for Coco's trek around the world. The chicks, with their googly eyes and appealing accessories, come alive with distinct personalities and expressions. Hagen's photography plays up the important features of each scene, casts interesting shadows, and uses hazy, out-of-focus areas to give the impression of deep distance. Adults familiar with Tanen'sBitter with Baggage Seeks Same(Bloomsbury, 2003) will snatch up copies of this book just to admire the adorable cast of chickens, then they'll share it with the children in their lives.–Laurie Edwards, Infinity Charter School, Harrisburg, PACopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.