A brood of chickens see their opportunity for a getaway and seize the day. They flee the coop and head out for a good wander through the forested terrain of their island home. It’s a very spare, charming text and as always, Nikki McClure’s cut-paper art is quietly whimsical, joyful and unique. We’ve always appreciated her point of a view as an artist living in the the Pacific Northwest, very much in touch with the ebb and flow of the wild, beautiful life there. An author’s note recounts Nikki’s experience living with “a small group of monastics on Spruce Island, Alaska” and the event that inspired this wonderful story.
The Great Chicken Escape was written and illustrated by Nikki McClure and published by Cameron Kids. It’ll be out soon on April 24 and is available to pre-order now.