Pip’s Trip by Janet Morgan Stoeke

This sequel to The Loopy Coop Hens returns to the Loopy Coop Farm and the hens, Pip, Midge and Dot.  When they watch the farmer’s truck drive away, the hens start to wonder what it would be like to take a ride in it.  Pip thinks that it might be fun and climbs into the back of the truck.  But the other two hens decide that they will go get Rooster Sam to go with them, leaving Pip in the truck alone.  Pip gets worried, she feels a vibration and it gets noisier.  So she hides under a blanket and misses the whole wide world passing by.  When the truck quiets down again, she peeks from under the blanket and finds herself on the farm, safe and sound.  Unfortunately, when she climbs down, she discovers that she really didn’t have the adventure she thought she did.

Written as a picture book with short chapters, this book would work well as both a picture book and an easy reader.  The text is large, simple and very friendly.  There is also a rich vein of humor through the entire book, especially when readers will realize early in the story that Pip did not actually take a ride in the truck. 

Stoeke’s art is just as simple as her prose.  Done in washes of color and strong black lines, the illustrations are almost coloring-book style.  The hens have their own unique personalities that are shown both in their visual and audible reactions to things.  In addition, both the story and illustrations show the love between the three hens and their support for one another. 

A sweet and simple book about adventures and friendship, this is one ride that young readers will be happy to go on.  Appropriate for ages 3-5.

Reviewed from copy received from Dial Books for Young Readers.