Chicken Predicament - Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School by Mary Rand Hess & Randy Preston Hardcover

About the Book

Dr. Preston's class must find runaway hen Lady Cluckery before the bell rings! With teamwork and puns, they reunite just as her chicks hatch. Includes resources for a mini-musical.

Book Synopsis

An egg-citing tale of teamwork!

Oh no! Lady Cluckery has run away! The students in Dr. Preston's class know they need to find her--before the bell rings to dismiss them for the weekend. They'll have to split up if they want to find mama chicken and care for her eggs until they hatch. Working together, they find Lady Cluckery in the costume closet, of all places.

Why kids will love Chicken Predicament

• Uniquely pairs an online musical performance kit with an illustrated story
• Engaging storytelling features characters with creative problem-solving skills
• Encourages teamwork to tackle big challenges

Thanks to these "plucky" students, Lady Cluckery returns, just in time for the arrival of Hatch, Chirp, and Peep.

The Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture series seamlessly blends literature and the performing arts, offering an immersive storytelling experience. Each book provides online access to a script and original song recordings, allowing readers to bring the story to life as a mini musical--just like the characters in the book. This innovative series fosters creativity, imagination, and a love for the arts, making storytelling a truly interactive adventure.

Review Quotes

"Both the children and animals are illustrated with care, and a wide variety of skin tones is displayed. Even silly scenes like the kids dancing with dogs exude charm. Back matter includes information on managing disappointment, descriptions of behind-the-scenes theater roles, text about the importance of self-expression, and tips on creating a welcoming space."-- "School Library Journal on the Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School series"

"From the first joyful illustration to the last musical moment, this jubilant series is a celebration of friendship, teamwork, and learning. These books will delight readers from cover to cover, and teachers and students alike will want to emulate all the fun happening at Bird Mountain School."--Megan E. Freeman, New York Times bestselling author of Alone and Away

"The Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School are a delight in every way. Don't miss this super-fun addition to storytime!"--Lamar Giles, author of The Legendary Alston Boys series and Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp

About the Author

Mary Rand Hess is the coauthor of the Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture book series. She is a poet, playwright, screenwriter, composer, mixed-media artist, and a New York Times bestselling author of a dozen books, including Quiet Is Strength and Belong. Mary loves collaborative arts and working with other creators. She executive-produced the children's digital series Songbook for the Kennedy Center, and she is co-playwright for the smash-hit musical Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume, which had its world premiere at the Kennedy Center and toured the United States. Whether she's creating for the page, stage, or screen, Mary has many stories to dream up and share. She lives in Southern California with her husband and sons. Visit Mary at maryrandhess.com to find out more about her books and the projects she's creating.

Randy Preston is the coauthor of the Mini-Musical Tales from Bird Mountain School picture book series. He is an African Piscataway composer, writer, photographer, educator, and performer. He was raised and educated in the United Kingdom and Kenya and taught English literature. Randy composed and performed for ABC Mouse, the Kennedy Center's digital series Songbook, and Acoustic Rooster's Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume which had a national tour in 2023. He is excited about his debut picture book, First Drum, arriving in 2025. Randy's current projects include a musical adaptation of the documentary Love Them First and writing a giant YA novel. He co-authored the picture book How to Sing a Song with Kwame Alexander. For more information about Randy and his many projects, visit randypreston.com.

Marilena Perilli grew up in New York City. Her first art influences were the colorfully painted subway cars clattering above her on elevated tracks. Her work brings the charm of 1960s and 70s process printing into the digital world, giving it a fresh, energetic spin. Marilena prefers to work digitally, leaning into the textured and painterly qualities of gouache while using limited color palettes. She has worked extensively in children's publishing, as well as in editorial, educational, licensing, advertising, and television. Marilena's love language is cooking, and she enjoys recreating dishes from her first-generation Italian-American upbringing. She lives in Westchester, New York, with her firefighter husband and two teenage boys.