MacDonald (Look Whooo's Counting
) brings her own farmyard to life in this interactive paper-over-board book. And on her farm she has a chick—in hiding. The title's query repeats on each spread, in bright, bold letters of varied shades while, opposite, children can lift a large flap to reveal a familiar animal (instead of the elusive chick). MacDonald's illustrations are the main attraction; her jewel-colored
paper collages with their textured brushstrokes resemble Eric Carle's work. The opening spread depicts a chicken coop aflutter with a clutch of hens that discover a friendly cat tucked behind a flap shaped like a pile of hay. A refrain that echoes the song lyrics also appears beneath each flap ("No, not here a chick... just three geese with a honk honk honk
!"). As the book continues, a parade of expressive animals (from a pair of flop-eared swine to a cow with a jaunty, flowered hat) joins in the search for the chick. Young readers should quickly be able to memorize and read along with this riff on a favorite playground tune. Here a flap, there a flap, everywhere a diverting book. Ages 3-5. (Feb.)
