3.5 stars, rounded up!

Lena the Chicken is fun story about staying true to yourself no matter the circumstances, while also teaching nonfiction facts tying chickens to dinosaurs. The illustrations were cute, but thought at times they seemed very messy and scary.

I had the privilege of being able to read this in advance of it being published -
Lena the Chicken (But really a Dinosaur) is such an adorable book. I loved the colorful illustrations and flow of the story. My favorite thing about this book is how this tale is a fictional children's story, but It's based on one true fact- Chickens are the closest living relatives to a dinosaur. This book is perfect for any age!

Such cute illustrations and story. A great read for all the primal, feral girls in your life. Well-suited for ages 3-6.

Lena the chicken (but really a dinosaur) , is a cute story of a chicken named Lena, who believes she is a dinosaur trapped in a chickens body. My kids found this book funny and found it interesting that chickens are dinosaurs most closely related relatives.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC.

This was a very cute book about a chicken who dreamed of grandeur. My daughter (5) really loved all the sound effects of the chickens and was very interested in the weasel. Seeing that Lena didn't let the other chickens crush her dreams was wonderful and sparked a conversation that sometimes it's better not to follow the pack, especially when Lena not only showed how strong she was, but then taught the others how to be strong too. The illustrations have a lot of movement and the story kept my child's attention. I felt the last line was a bit snarky and could have been worded better, the last couple pages almost felt like the author was expecting push back for what she was writing and was trying to get ahead of it. The fact sheet at the end was an interesting read. We read this ebook through NetGalley.

Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) is such a cute story about a chicken who tells her family she is a dinosaur and they don't believe her. This book is such much fun to read and I cannot wait until I am able to read this with my students in the library! Even though the writing is fiction, there are nonfiction facts sprinkled throughout such as chickens really are dinosaurs. Overall this is such a cute story that teaches kids that chickens and other birds share DNA with dinosaurs, how cool! The story was easy to follow and would be a really great book to read aloud to a class in the library or inside a classroom during story time.

Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) is such a cute book. It's about Lena who as you can see thinks deep down in her bones she is a dinosaur. She couldn't understand her family being to scared of everthing and her family couldn't understand her being brave and bold. They would tell Lena things like she had "Big Ideas." Basically, they thought she was a dreamer.

One day a weasel made it to the door of the chicken coop. Lena went into action. She found it deep insider her and made the loudest sound any of the chickens have ever made...."KKKRRAAGGGHH!!" came out of her mouth. After this sound was made her family believed she was a dinosaur. The human family's daughter Madeline came home and was excited about a Science Fair Project where she found out chickens are related to dinosaurs.
Lena had known all along she really was a dinosaur.

Lena teaches her family self defense, making big noises, standing up for yourself and most importantly sticking together. They learned together that being different is ok and to embrace each other. Also on the final page there are facts about chickens and dinosaurs.

This book was super fun trying to make the chicken sounds. I can see you and your family running around the house imitating being a chicken.

-Thank you NetGallery and Penguin Random House for providing the ARC.

A cute and educational story. I really loved the incorporation of evolutionary science into the story. It's a great way to learn.

Great pictures and a fun book.

This is a cute book with fun illustrations by K-Fai Steele. A brave little chicken rules the barnyard with her highfalutin ideas, but saves the day when the coop is attacked. This book presents the theory of evolution to young readers.

I received a complementary digital copy of this book from NetGalley and Penguin Random House.

Lena is a loud, smart animal who doesn't fit in with her meek, fearful family. A weasel is stalking the coop and Lena saves them when she unleashes her dino roar.

This is a nice story about the good things that can come from being yourself. The world needs all different kinds of people, and this is why.

Some of my patrons will take issue with the evolution aspect of the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of your book. This is a great story expressing personality and unwavering commitment to oneself inspite of tremendous disagreement from family and friends. My children loved listening to this inspiring story and wanted to hear it again. This is a keeper!

If you ask Lena, she's a dinosaur. If you ask her family, she's a chicken. Lena has always been different, she's not scared like her family, and deep, deep down she knows she is a dinosaur. Through bravery, and lots of noise, Lena learns that its okay to believe in yourself and that, yes, chickens really are dinosaurs. This adorable picturebook is both fun to read and informative.

Me and my kiddos (even the teenager! 😆) had sooo much fun reading Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) 🐔🦖. My three-year-old, who loves dinos and farm animals, was completely captivated by the story—the illustrations were so engaging that he shouted, "OH NO, WATCH OUT FOR WEASEL!" 🦊😱

We also had an absolute blast making the chicken-dino sounds—I'm sure our house will be echoing with "KKKRRAAGGGHHH!" for weeks to come! 😂🐔💨

This book is perfect for any setting with children—home, school, library, you name it! 📚🏡🏫 It offers plenty of wonderful lessons to explore:
✨ Chickens really are dinosaurs! 🦖➡️🐔
✨ You can be strong and courageous when facing a bully! 💪😤
✨ Encouraging others to stand up for themselves and their friends is so important! 🤝💙

And most importantly, this book beautifully reminds us that each of us—and all of God's creatures—are uniquely and wonderfully made. 🌎✨ We all have something special that brings light to the world, just like Lena. 🌟🐔💛

An absolute must-read for little (and big!) dino lovers! 🦖📖🔥

This review has been shared on:
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“Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!)” by Linda Bailey is a charming story about a brave chicken named Lena who refuses to back down. When a weasel threatens the safety of the flock, Lena steps up with her dino-sized confidence to save the day.
My 6-year-old found this book both fun and hilarious—his verdict? A definite 5-star read! As a school librarian, I can see this book being a fantastic resource for teachers, especially for lessons on friendship and standing up for others. It would work well in a guidance lesson about handling bullies or a health lesson on embracing who you are. With its engaging story and important themes, this book has endless possibilities for use in the elementary classroom.
Thanks to NetGallery and Tundra Book Group for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Lena the Chicken ( but really a dinosaur), it was a very cute story about being yourself even if people don't understand. I liked how the author showed the character being brave by standing up for herself and defending her friends. The the science fair was a nice touch, showing the connection from dinosaurs to birds. I liked that the author included a page with extra information about the bird/dinosaur connection so that the parents are able to discuss this amazing tidbit with their children.

One thing I do want to mention as a person who has worked with small children for a long time, the onomatopoeia used in the book (rgah, pdok, and Kragh) might be a little too difficult for children just learning to read and/or have trouble sounding out words. In my experience it is easier for emerging readers to recognize and pronounce words they see more often such as "roar" and "bak".

Overall I enjoyed the story as did my children. It would be a fun read for the classroom.

Lena the chicken is such a fun story about a feisty chicken who knows she has what it takes to protect the flock! When push comes to shove, she shows the flock just what she is made of… and so are they! They all reach down and embrace the dinosaur in their DNA. We really enjoyed the artwork and the fun story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun story about backyard chickens and their relation to dinosaurs! This book is fun to read with an engaging plot, colorful illustrations and enjoyable characters! A great book overall!!

*Thank you NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for this ARC!*

This book was adorable. It had a great message for young children about being able to be whatever they want to be, and about believing in yourself. The main character was engaging and someone that children will love. I had a blast reading this book and I cannot wait until I can have it on the shelves of the library.

An amusing and informative picture book about a chicken named Lena who knows that there's more to her kind than the small, feathery creatures they are today. Kids who love dinosaurs will be amazed by this book's ability to connect our world today with the myth-like creatures of the past.

Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) is an adorable and uplifting picture book about a pollito who wholeheartedly believes she’s a dinosaur. Through her unwavering confidence, she shows that chickens can embrace the traits they admire—strength, bravery, and uniqueness—regardless of how others perceive them. The illustrations are colorful and full of charm, bringing the humor and heart of the story to life. I love how the book seamlessly incorporates a scientific fact, making it both entertaining and educational—a definite plus! A great pick for kids who love dinosaurs and for anyone who needs a reminder that they can be whoever they want to be!