When one of Mother Hen’s seven chicks goes missing, everyone gets in on the search. It starts with the neighbors (a duck, goat, pig, and sheep), but soon the police arrive (two hound dogs and a feline detective), then the firefighters (beavers) in their big red truck. A helicopter is brought in for air-to-ground surveillance, but the search results are always the same: “He’s not here.” The mounting hysteria would be alarming if not for the utter absurdity in Valeri Gorbachev’s pleasing picture book featuring a winning cast of willing if ineffective searchers. “Where are you, little chick?” cries everyone in turn. As it turns out, not far away at all. (Ages 2–5)

Little chicks will be reassured when the town turns out for a search in this amusing, gently suspenseful tale with a sweet, satisfying ending.

One of Mother Hen’s little chicks is missing. Did they leave him in the house? Is he hiding in his bed? Under a bush? A frantic Mother Hen enlists the help of obliging neighbors, who search high and low but see no sign of the missing chick. Soon the firemen arrive, and a detective is on the case. But is the little chick really missing? Or did he just find a quiet place for a nap? With bright illustrations and comically expressive animal characters, Valeri Gorbachev tells a lighthearted, over-the-top tale of a little chick lost — and happily found.