Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Exactly six years after her hatching, self-proclaimed inspector H. Poulet has just hung out her detective-agency shingle when three hen friends arrive demanding answers to the titular question. Evasive about their motives, they set the feathered detective, who's decked out in a noir-style fedora and trench coat, on a barnyard-wide investigation. "I had a case to solve or there'd be egg on my face," writes Caplan Sayres (the Where Do... series), conjuring text in which chicken puns pile up thicker than feathers from a molting hen. At each stop, Poulet discovers a taunting note: "You can lead a horse to water," reads one, "but... you still haven't solved this mystery!" Who could the wise quacker be? Readers paying close attention may suspect that the farm animals' behaviors are all in service of a good--even celebratory--cause. Sunny-hued, digitally finished pencil illustrations by Fearing (Brandon and the Totally Troublesome Time Machine) portray an expressive, googly-eyed animal cast, all remarkably skilled at secret-keeping. This blend of detective fiction and farmyard fun offers read-aloud audiences and emerging readers a solid introduction to the mystery genre, with just enough goofiness to keep them clucking. Ages 4--8. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--Inspector H. Poulet isn't an ordinary hen, she's a detective! Her friends the hens bring her a mystery, so she gets cracking on the case of the title: why did the chicken cross the road? Led on a merry chase full of egg-cellent puns, the inspector talks to all the usual barnyard suspects until the mystery is solved and the entire farm can celebrate their favorite detective. Children will enjoy the energy that the inspector has as she hurries through the barnyard, along with the bright illustrations and expressive animals. Spotting hidden clues, such as wrapped gifts, birthday hats, and balloons tucked away, allows readers a chance to solve the case themselves. VERDICT This charming but slight story is for larger collections.--Melisa Bailey
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A sleuthing chicken follows a trail of clues to try to solve an age-old question. For her very first case, Inspector Poulet's friends bring her a big one: Why did the Chicken--who, with her sister the Egg, rules the roost at the henhouse--cross the road? With each new tip or clue, Inspector Poulet gets closer to solving the mystery, but a twist lands the plucky investigator at the center of the solution. Eagle-eyed readers will pick up on hints to the story's ending by paying close attention to the illustrations. The text is littered with chicken and farm puns, and though they're admittedly well used, there are so many that they become a distraction. The central mystery is very tongue-in-cheek, but it's a convoluted push to arrive at the story's ending. Inspector Poulet wears a chicken-size brown trench coat and flower-adorned fedora. The chickens have large, round eyes with long eyelashes that are largely responsible for conveying their expressions. Setting the scene well with cartoon artwork and making effective use of light and shadow, Fearing relies on varying page layouts and perspectives; some images are split panes, while others are inset in larger illustrations. Though the storyline is muddy, youngsters will enjoy discovering new clues on repeat readings. A somewhat scrambled mystery that still offers some farmyard fun.(Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
