Review by Booklist Review
Lena is a chicken (bird) who lives with a bunch of other chickens (birds) who are all huge chickens (cowards). Lena is decidedly not a chicken (coward), because she believes in her heart of hearts that she's not even a chicken (bird); in fact, Lena believes she's a dinosaur! Unfortunately, Lena's dinosaurian confidence is unappreciated--until the night a weasel breaks into the chicken coop. As all the other chickens (birds/cowards) freak out, Lena goes deep into herself, summoning the strength of her dino ancestors, and she produces a dino-roar so big that it shakes the very Earth (and the coop), scaring off (and humiliating) the intruder. Lena is now beloved--and also seen as undoubtedly being a dinosaur. Even the human girl who looks after them is delighted to discover that chickens (birds) are indeed descended from dinosaurs, a fact that is expanded upon in the book's back matter, along with some nonfiction resources for further learning. A hilarious story, elevated by Steele's uproarious illustrations (per usual), that also introduces some good knowledge.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Convinced she's descended from mighty dinosaurs, fierce fowl protagonist Lena is sure that her avian family is "a bunch of big chickens," an opinion helped along by the advice they give: "Aim LOW and you'll never be disappointed." Of the farm's human caretakers, only young Madeline, portrayed with dark hair and pink skin, appreciates Lena's spirit: "She has PERSONALITY! I like her!" When a sneaky, magnificently whiskered weasel arrives and infiltrates the coop, Lena taps into something "way down deep inside her bones and DNA." And as the spirits of dinosaur ancestors seem to swirl about her in pale blue hues, she goes full terrible lizard, unleashing a "KKRRAAAGGGHH!!" that both routs the predator and brings her fellow chickens around ("She really IS a dinosaur! She really IS!"). Lena is further vindicated when Madeline returns from school having learned that chickens are indeed "one of the closest living relatives in the WHOLE WORLD to a dinosaur." Gloriously goofy pencil and watercolor illustrations by Steele (That Always Happens Sometimes) and theatrical dialogue from Bailey (Cinderella--with Dogs!) imbue Lena with delicious levels of gravitas across a triumphant, fully fleshed-out work that delivers important observations about honoring one's nature. A contextualizing note concludes. Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 3--7. (Oct.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3--Lena, a chicken who firmly believes she is a dinosaur, is distinguished by her bold character, which sets her apart from her easily scared chicken family. Her conviction leads her to guard the coop, attempting to deter egg collectors with "dinosaur" sounds. A human character, Madeline, appreciates Lena's unique self-perception. The plot escalates when a weasel endangers the flock, prompting Lena to unleash a "dreadful GROWL" that swells to the sound of "A THOUSAND DINOSAURS," a powerful move that drives the weasel away. This dramatic moment is enhanced by the narrative's effective use of bolding and capitalization for emphasis, conveying Lena's strong internal belief and the impact of her actions. Following this, the chickens accept Lena's dinosaur identity, and she teaches them self-defense tactics. The book culminates with a scientific revelation, well-supported by excellent back matter: Madeline's science fair project provides evidence that chickens are indeed modern-day dinosaurs, a fact consistent with recent paleontological discoveries. The illustrations, created with pencil and watercolor, effectively portray Lena's world and emotions, contributing to the story's charm and vibrancy and making this great for showing during read-alouds. By celebrating themes of self-identity, bravery, and scientific concepts in a fun, accessible way, this is valuable for young readers and for social-emotional learning. VERDICT This book offers a unique and engaging blend of fictional storytelling and scientific education, making it an excellent addition to school library collections.--Richard Winters
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Review by Horn Book Review
Sure, Lena has buff feathers, a red comb and wattle, and the manic, beady eyes that Steele (illustrator of the Lone Wolf series, rev. 7/25, and others) is so good at drawing. But Lena knows she is a dinosaur. This sets her apart from the other chickens in the coop, in hilarious scenes that juxtapose her essential dinosaur-ness against her relations' chicken-hearted natures. "Have some GUMPTION!" she clucks in disgust as the other hens cringe away from a tiny kitten; "Aim LOW and you'll never be disappointed," the other chickens advise her. Bailey's (The Three Little Mittens, rev. 11/23) wry narration is paced so it practically reads itself aloud. It's embellished by Steele's energetic pencil and watercolor cartoons, which incorporate dialogue in speech bubbles and offer plenty of visual chuckles. When a weasel with a "magnificent set of whiskers" threatens the farm, he's silhouetted against the sky like a B-movie villain. Of course it's Lena, harnessing "something ancient, something primeval," to the rescue in a comedic sequence that sends the now-whiskerless weasel running and that will have little listeners giggling. The story could end there, but it doesn't. The young human child of the farm comes home with a book on evolution, and Lena is thoroughly vindicated. This makes for rather a long coda, but Steele's light touch keeps the pages turning. A concluding note provides further scientific basis for Lena's conviction and recommends two nonfiction books on the dino-bird connection. Vicky SmithNovember/December 2025 p.44 (c) Copyright 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
One henhouse resident gets back to her roots. Fiercely protective of her fellow fowl, Lena is one tough chicken. When the people who run the farm try to extract eggs from the coop, Lena henpecks them mercilessly. And when the hens are spooked by harmless things like boxes and frogs, Lena demands that they buck up. Unlike the other chickens, Lena understands something significant about her true nature. She's a dinosaur, capable of terrifying intruders and protecting her kin. Her talents are brought to bear when a weasel sneaks into their pen one night. Lena's primeval squawk sends the interloper scrambling, minus most of his whiskers. Finally, Lena's skeptics, avian and human alike, appreciate her particular gift. An excellent opportunity for a dramatic read-aloud, the narration is paced in a fablelike style with sprinkles of jokey speech-bubble dialogue and a few scientific facts thrown in for good measure--chickens are indeed among the closest living relatives to theropods. Steele's illustrations are a delightful match for Bailey's story. Relying on loose, sketchy pencil drawings and splashes of watercolor that emphasize the narrative's beats, she depicts overreactive hens huddled at the dinner table, a desultory weasel at his boudoir mirror, and a puzzled human family bandaging their chicken-caused injuries. Lena's owners are tan-skinned and dark-haired. A silly, skillful, and scientifically grounded tale. (information on dinosaurs)(Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
