Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!)

One of Publishers Weekly‘s Best Books of 2025

“Bailey’s . . . wry narration is paced so it practically reads itself aloud. It’s embellished by Steele’s energetic pencil and watercolor cartoons, which incorporate dialogue in speech bubbles and offer plenty of visual chuckles.” —STARRED REVIEW, The Horn Book

“Gloriously goofy pencil and watercolor illustrations by Steele . . . and theatrical dialogue from Bailey . . . imbue Lena with delicious levels of gravitas across a triumphant, fully fleshed-out work that delivers important observations about honoring one’s nature.” —STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly

“By ­celebrating themes of self-identity, bravery, and scientific concepts in a fun, ­accessible way, this is valuable for young readers and for social-emotional learning. . . . offers a unique and engaging blend of fictional storytelling and scientific e­ducation, making it an excellent addition to school library collections.” —STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal

“An excellent opportunity for a dramatic read-aloud, the narration is paced in a fablelike style with sprinkles of jokey speech-bubble dialogue and a few scientific facts thrown in for good measure — chickens are indeed among the closest living relatives to theropods. Steele’s illustrations are a delightful match for Bailey’s story. . . . A silly, skillful, and scientifically grounded tale.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A hilarious story, elevated by Steele’s uproarious illustrations (per usual), that also introduces some good knowledge.” —Booklist