Catch That Chicken!

By Atinuke, Angela Brooksbank (Illustrator)

A young girl must outsmart chickens when her speed fails her in a Nigerian village.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 641 ratings

32 pages· 304 words· Est. 3 min read-aloud

$16.99Save 6%

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Bookroo's summary

Lami is the fastest chicken catcher in her Nigerian village, outshining her siblings and friends. But when a chase leaves her with a swollen ankle, she faces a new challenge. Can Lami rely on her wits instead of her speed to catch the elusive chickens? With her grandmother's wisdom echoing in her mind, Lami must discover if quick thinking can triumph over quick running. This vibrant tale of childhood ingenuity and village life explores the power of adaptability and cleverness in overcoming obstacles.

"Sister Sadia is speedy at spelling. But when it comes to chickens...Lamie is speedier."

— from the book

From the publisher

The team behind Baby Goes to Market and B Is for Baby visit a Nigerian village for a humorous ode to childhood ingenuity. Lami is the best chicken catcher in the whole village. Her sister may be speedy at spelling, her friend fast at braiding hair, and her brother brave with bulls, but when it comes to chickens, nobody is faster or braver than Lami. That is, until the day when Lami chases a little too fast, up the baobab tree, and reaches a little too far . . . ow! How can she catch chickens with an ankle that’s puffed up like an angry lizard? Could it be, as Nana Nadia says, that quick thinking is more important than quick running? Award-winning author Atinuke celebrates Nigerian village life in a story vibrantly illustrated by Angela Brooksbank with a universal message at its heart.