Hen in the Bed

The bed is full. There are ten in the bed: a lion, a cow, a cat, a sheep, a dog, a sloth, a bear, a duck, a snake, and a speckled hen. The speckled hen shouts, “Roll over. Roll over!” The animals all roll over and the lion falls out, roaring loudly. The hen yells again for everyone to roll over, and the cow falls out, mooing all the way. But the hen is not satisfied and shouts for everyone to roll over, this time knocking the meowing cat out. Then the sheep, then the dog, then the sloth, and on and on. But what happens when the speckled hen finds herself all alone in that big bed?

Katrina Charman has written a perfectly silly story that has counting and animal sounds through it to keep young listeners engaged and learning while having an awful lot of fun. The bright and charming illustrations by Guilherme Karsten are filled with funny details that will keep youngsters searching to find all the fun while their interest is held. The cut-page design is clever and fun as well. This is a winner.