Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve

Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 2007. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Minerva Louise loved the way the snow sparkled on the house with the red curtains.

Premise/plot: Minerva Louise returns to the house with red curtains. She's curious about the sparkly tree topped with a hen and the goats on the roof. Why is the farmer wearing a red hat? So many questions this hen has. She's back and as silly as ever.

My thoughts: It's Christmas and Minerva Louise is confused about all the changes inside and out! I really am fond of this chicken! My favorite is her confusion about why the strange man was eating her farmers' breakfast!

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs

Minerva Louise and the Colorful Eggs. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 2006. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Minerva Louise loved the springtime.

Premise/plot: Minerva is very confused by the Easter egg hunt on the farm. She thinks that there's an absent-minded chicken abandoning her eggs ALL over the place. She rounds up the other hens and has them trying to find the eggs to sit on them to keep them warm. Then they notice the "farmers" picking up the eggs. The other hens are content that all is well. But Minerva is still curious! She asks questions of the "brown bunny" and "yellow chicks" but candy doesn't answer questions!

My thoughts: I loved this one. I'd never thought to imagine how a chicken would view egg hunts! Minerva Louise may get a lot of things wrong, but I love her gumption.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Minerva Louise and the Red Truck

Minerva Louise and the Red Truck. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Minerva Louise loved the red truck. It was one of her favorite places to play.

Premise/plot: Minerva goes on a ride and sees a lot of trucks at work as the world speeds by. Will her favorite truck remain her farmers' red truck?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one. Minerva gets in the back of the truck, spots the toy box, table and chairs, and has herself a grand old time. The toy box is a tool box, the table and chairs a couple of clay pots. This one is a joy to read. Pure silliness at work.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10


© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Minerva Louise at the Fair

Minerva Louise at the Fair. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 2000. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Minerva Louise loved how peaceful the farm was at night.

Premise/plot: My favorite silly chicken is disturbed by the "stars falling from the sky" and leaves the farm to see what is making all the booms. She finds herself at the fair. She even finds herself on a ride at one point. The world is so new and exciting when seen through the eyes of an inexperienced chicken.

My thoughts: I liked this one. The merry go round as horse barn was probably my favorite bit.

Text: 3.5 out of 5
Illustrations 3.5 out of 5
Total: 7 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

A Friend for Minerva Louise

A Friend for Minerva Louise. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 1997. 32 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The house with the red curtains looks different today, thought Minerva Louise. What is it? Oh, they have a new wheelbarrow. Isn't it fancy! I wonder what else has changed around here. That fence wasn't there before. And look--a new rabbit hutch.

Premise/plot: There's a new baby at the house with the red curtains. Minerva Louise is curious. Oh, she's not smart enough to see that the wheelbarrow is really a stroller and that the rabbit hutch is really a crib. She's definitely in search of a BUNNY and not a baby.

My thoughts: Minerva Louise is a fun chicken to spend time with. She's not the smartest or most observant. Well, technically she observes plenty. But she doesn't have the gift of discernment! She doesn't understand what she sees. This misunderstanding provides a lot of humor to the book. It's very funny to see the world through the eyes of this oh-so-silly chicken. You never know how she will see the world.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Minerva Louise at School

Minerva Louise at School. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 1996. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: One morning, Minerva Louise woke up before everyone else. It was a beautiful morning, so she decided to go for a walk through the tall grass. She walked on and on. Oh, look! A big, fancy barn, thought Minerva Louise.

Premise/plot: Minerva Louise explores a "big, fancy barn" in this third adventure. The barn, of course, as you might have guessed is really a school! She explores the stalls (classrooms) and looks for animals (students.) She even finds nesting boxes (cubbies) and an egg (a baseball). She never does see any animals, but she returns to her own nesting place full of good ideas.

My thoughts: This one may be the funniest Minerva Louise yet. Especially if anyone you know and love is a teacher. It's just a very silly book. I love that the humor comes from the differences between the text and the illustrations. Minerva's "truth" is far from reality. And readers young and old can spot all the many, many ways this chicken is wrong.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10


© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

A Hat for Minerva Louise

A Hat for Minerva Louise. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 1994. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Minerva Louise loved snowy mornings. Her friends didn't like them one bit. They stayed inside all day with their heads tucked under their wings.

Premise/plot: Minerva Louise is back in her second adventure, I believe, and in this adventure she goes and plays in the snow. Part of this snowy-day adventure includes searching for WARM THINGS to put on which would enable her to stay out and play longer. She tries many things on before finding a "hat" to wear.

My thoughts: This one was silly. Minerva Louise is quite mistaken about a lot of things. For example, a water hose is not a scarf, and gardening gloves are not shoes. I like the silliness of it. The story overall was very enjoyable.

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Minerva Louise

Minerva Louise. Janet Morgan Stoeke. 1988. 24 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Minerva Louise loved the house with the red curtains.

Premise/plot: Minerva Louise explores the house with the red curtains in this picture book. It is the first in a series starring this lovable hen. She may not be the smartest chicken, but, she may be the funniest. For example, "a comfortable chair...and friendly cows." The chair is a flower pot. The 'friendly cow' is a kitten.

My thoughts: I like this one very much. I don't know if I love, love, love Minerva Louise yet. But. I am curious about this CURIOUS chicken. I want to see what other types of adventures she has. Will definitely be returning to the library for more!

Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

© 2017 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews