Catch That Chicken!

Lami lives in a community compound with many of her family members. Each member contributes to the community with their own special skills. Lami’s brother is brave with the bulls, her sister is a fantastic speller, but Lami is the fastest chicken catcher. As Lami runs faster and faster to catch the chicken many people in the village tell her to “Sannu, Sannu,” or slow down. Lami is determined to do whatever it takes to catch the chicken when she makes some poor choices and follows the chicken up a tree and then falls. Lami gets injured and the chicken goes free. Lami’s grandmother reminds her that fast feet don’t catch a chicken but a sharp mind does. Lami gets creative trying to catch chickens while injured.

This book has very detailed and bright illustrations. However, some of the illustrations leave me asking questions such as why is the school outside the compound? I would think it would be inside the compound to keep the children safe. Why is Lami catching chickens? are they her pets? or does she catch them to cook them for dinner? I like this book but it left me thinking.