Janet Morgan Stoeke
Contact author
Janet Morgan Stoeke at:
stoekej@verizon.net
school visits

    Reviewers love
    Pip's Trip
    *School Library Journal gives it a star!!!

    The clueless chickens from The Loopy Coop Hens
    (Dial, 2011) return. Spying the farm truck, Pip decides
    she wants to go for a ride and see the wide world;
    Midge and Dot aren’t so sure. Pip climbs into the bed
    of the truck, but she doesn’t reckon on the loud noise,
    shaking, and general scariness that occur when the
    truck’s engine starts. She covers her eyes and
    endures, thinking she’s moving, only to be assured by
    her friends when she climbs out that the truck hasn’t
    budged at all–the farmer was only repairing the engine.
    She and her fellow hens sit in the stationary
    wheelbarrow instead, because, she explains,
    “everything I want to see is right here.” With thick black
    lines and bright colors, Stoeke’s whimsical illustrations
    bring the charming characters to life. The economy and
    humor of the text combined with a lovely message
    make this book a winner.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan,
    Carroll County Public Library, MD

    Publishers Weekly loves it, too . . .

The Loopy Coop Hens are back and curious about the “wide
world” beyond the farm; the farmer’s red truck, though it’s
loud and scary, is just the ticket. But Pip ends up alone in the
truck—and it starts rumbling. Stoeke’s chapter-style
headings and simple sentences give early readers sure
footing while conveying the hens’ personalities and
emotions, as Pip’s bravado turns to fear, pride,
disappointment, and eventually contentment. As lovably
oblivious—but also supportive of each other—as ever,
Stoeke’s hens remain a winning trio. Ages 3–5.

    This is what Kirkus has to say:

Three hens look at a pick-up truck and dream of flight.

This title marks the return of Pip, Midge and Dot, three hens
in Stoeke’s long-running battery of chicken tales. They are an
endearing triumvirate, if massively untutored in the ways of
the world. Here, Pip gazes upon the farmer’s truck and
visions of going “out into the wide world” dance in her wee
brain. The others are game but a bit queasy…and, frankly,
that truck is awful loud. Comes the moment of truth, with Pip
bounding off Midge’s head into the truck bed, when Midge
and Dot balk, leaving Pip alone in the truck. The truck roars
to life, and Pip throws a blanket over her head and behaves
like a chicken until the motor stills. She peeks out and,
relieved, sees Midge and Dot. Pip struts a bit—“I was so
brave”—until she is told the truck went nowhere; it was just
turned on and off. Before embarrassment sneaks in, they
clap Pip on the back and exclaim at her bravery anyway: She
got in the truck! It was loud! Such good comrades, such
unconditional love. Stoeke’s sweeps of sherbet colors
create a beckoning world, one broken into short chapters
and simple text, which make this a bright challenge for early
readers.

The lack of perfection is rarely so comically gladdening.
(Picture book. 3-5)