NORA'S CHICKS written by Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Kathryn Brown

About the book:

From Newbery Medalist Patricia MacLachlan comes a reassuring story about new beginnings and making friends.

Nora and her family have just arrived from Russia and are making a new home on the American frontier. The prairie is very different from the forested hills Nora is used to. Most of all, it’s lonely. Papa has the cows he sings to as he milks them. Baby brother Milo has a dog to follow him wherever he goes. But Nora has no one and nothing to call her own until Papa brings home a dozen chicks and two geese. Nora names each one, and they follow her everywhere — even to church! But what will happen when one of her beloved chicks goes missing?

• ISBN-13: 9780763647537
• Publisher: Candlewick Press
• Publication date: 2/26/2013
• Pages: 40
• Age range: 3 - 7 Years
• Lexile: AD490L (what's this?)
• Product dimensions: 8.82 (w) x 10.36 (h) x 0.40 (d)

Where to buy: Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Candlewick Press

About author:
Patricia MacLachlan is the Newbery Medal-winning author of Sarah, Plain and Tall. She has published many, many books, including Lala Salama, illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon; Journey; Skylark; and Cassie Binegar. Patricia MacLachlan lives in western Massachusetts.

About illustrator:
Kathryn Brown is the illustrator of numerous books for children, including My Little Grandmother Often Forgets by Reeve Lindbergh and Kisses on the Wind by Lisa Moser. Kathryn Brown lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

My Thoughts: Nora was not pleased with her new home in America. Her new home on the prairie did not have as many trees or hills as Russia had in fact she saw only one tree and not even one tree. On top of that she needed a friend. One girl visited her new home but they both were too shy to connect as friends.  One day Nora's dad brought home some baby chicks and two geese to add to their families food chain. This upset Nora and her father decided she could have the chicks. They would be hers to care for and do with as she saw fit. This pleased Nora so much she promised her father she would take good care her chicks. The chicks followed Nora every where she went making Nora and her chicks well known. The author wrote the story in a simple way that will make it easy for early readers to read. The story is well written emphasizing how hard it must have been for a young immigrant to adjust to their new life in America. Children moving to a new school or neighborhood would find comfort in reading this story. The illustrations reminded me of some first readers I enjoyed reading as a child in the early 1950s. I can still see the illustrations in my mind. I highly recommend this book.  I rated this book a 5 out of 5. Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Candlewick Press for review. I was in no way compensated for this review. This review is my honest opinion.