School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2This is the third book featuring Hilda's barnyard adventures. Having napped too long under a rose bush, the chicken gathers her courage to get back to the henhouse after dark. She tiptoes past a snake (hose), flies over a monster (rocking horse), and swims across a lake (wading pool) on her way home. Wormell's bold linocuts with heavy black outlines combine with a simple repetitive text, providing both tension and clues to readers and listeners. Unfortunately, the ending is a bit of a let down, and some of the magic is lost. Nevertheless, Hilda is brave and proud of her courage and determination, and youngsters who hesitate to venture out when the sun goes down will be sympathetic to her plight.Gale W. Sherman, Pocatello Public Library, ID (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Chunky linocuts depict a daffy hen's adventures dodging a garden-hose snake and fording a kiddy-pool lake. Ages 2-6. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Horn Book Review
After Hilda Hen wakes from an overlong nap, she must make her way across a darkened barnyard to the hen house. Along the way she encounters all manner of apparent dangers, such as a 'snake' that's really a hose. While Hilda bravely conquers each trouble spot, the bright, active linocut illustrations show the reader why there's nothing to fear. From HORN BOOK 1996, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 2^-5. Fans of Hilda Hen will rejoice in her third adventure. After a long nap, Hilda Hen awakes to find that night has fallen and darkness surrounds her. Scared, she sets off for the henhouse, only to encounter what appears to be a fox, a monster, and the waters of a lake. Each time, she musters up her courage and bravely escapes from the frightening creatures and objects. The next morning, Hilda Hen wonders where all the scary things go in the light of day. The answer will be evident to those children who are visually attuned to the clues depicted in the fresh, colorful linocut illustrations. The wonderful blend of the folk-art illustrations and the simple but language-rich narrative makes the well-designed picture book popular fare for story times. --April Judge
