From Publishers Weekly
Inspired in part by the classic story of Ping, the adventurousyoung duck on the Yangtze River, Brett's (The Mitten) spirited,intricately illustrated tale centers on Daisy, the smallest of MeiMei's six hens. Escaping the taunts of the larger hens, thebeleaguered creature leaves the henhouse one rainy night to sleepin an egg basket at the edge of the Li River. But soon the risingwater reaches the basket, and the current sweeps Daisy downstream.While a distraught Mei Mei searches for her, Daisy encounters (andcleverly escapes from) a dog, a water buffalo and a troop ofmonkeys before being snatched up by a fisherman who can't wait tosell her at market. Mei Mei's nick-of-time rescue of Daisy willbring smiles to young faces as will Daisy's new status in the henhouse. In the main frame of each paneled spread, Brett depicts infine detail the diverse wildlife and lush vegetation found alongthe Li, while smaller images in the corners amplify elements of theplot. Incorporating simulated bamboo patterns, basket weaves andpainted pottery, the artist's trademark borders and embellishmentsintriguingly evoke the timeless setting. The elegance of theillustrations gains a touch of whimsy as Brett hides some surprisesin the distant mountains. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* Ages 5-8. Brett, known for her intricate designsand her engaging artwork, outdoes herself in this story set inmodern-day China. Young Mei Mei loves taking care of her hens,calling them the happiest hens in China. But one of them, Daisy, isbullied by her coop mates. One night, Daisy floats down the riverin a straw basket, and suddenly she must rely on survival skillsshe didn't know she had. Mei Mei shows her own bravery when sherescues Daisy, who turns up at the local market bound for thekettle, and Daisy proves she can hold her own when she returns tothe farm. The story has a strong beginning and end, but it bogsdown in the middle. What never flags is the excitement generated bythe incredible artwork. Children can see every feather on a hen,each orange in a bin in the marketplace, and every tile on a roof.Brett's attention to detail is matched by her skill in representingthe story's viewpoint and movement: spot art on the edge of eachpage moves the story along or adds a bit of new knowledge.Particularly eye-catching are the richly hued pictures, burstingwith Chinese life. The art sets off the story with decorativecorners resembling bamboo or woven basketry that further carry outChinese motifs. Ilene Cooper
Copyright ? American Library Association. All rightsreserved
From School Library Journal
reSchool-Grade 3--In a tale reminiscent of Marjorie Flack's TheStory about Ping (Viking, 1933), the smallest hen in Mei Mei'schicken house can't compete each evening for her spot on the perch.One rainy night, Daisy decides to sleep outside, and she settlesdown in one of Mei Mei's market baskets, which is picked up by therain-swollen Li River. Carried downstream, she has many adventuresuntil she is caught by an enterprising fisherman who plans to sellher in the market. Of course, she is rescued by her determinedowner in a daring escape scene. Brett's tale is clever and containsmany authentic elements-varied Chinese people in modern clothing,fruits and vegetables, typical architecture from the area, etc.However, some of the market scenes are a bit old-fashioned, and notall of the Chinese characters on the baskets are correct. As istypical of Brett's work, the pages are full of detail and oftenoverdecorative, and the small pictures in the slanting sidebarsdistract from the dramatic, bold watercolors. The karsts, oddlyshaped mountains found near the Li River, are drawn to resembleanimals, which takes attention away from the main focus of theillustrations. Still, this lively story will be popular with youngreaders who won't mind a tale that reflects China as seen by anadmiring American visitor.
Barbara Scotto, Michael Driscoll School, Brookline, MA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
