Coriander the Contrary Hen

PreSchool-Grade 1—When Coriander is told to "go," she stays; when she is requested to "stay," she leaves. One day, she decides to relax in the middle of the road, blocking traffic as she pauses to read her magazines. The hen just won't listen to reason. As a traffic jam ensues, a young girl uses some reverse psychology to remedy the situation. Coriander retires back to the henhouse, but she continues to show attitude toward the other chickens there. Although it appears that she is rewarded for resisting positive suggestions, children will be able to relate to her and may even want to talk about their own "Coriander days." Cartoonlike paintings—in one scene, Coriander wears reading glasses-add humor to the text. Choruses of repeated rhymes—"Cluck cluck duck," "Cluck cluck truck"—will perhaps bring participation to this tale.