Reviewed by Joanne Ang for Readers' Favorite
Tiny Polly: The Story of a Brave Chicken is a picture book written by Jinan Samman and illustrated by Evgeniya Kozhevnikova for young readers. The story starts with a special chicken named Polly. Polly is unique because she is the smallest chicken of the flock at the farm. Because of her small stature, Polly is an outcast and has no friends. However, Polly has a great heart. This book will take you on an adventure with Polly that will surely leave a lasting mark through its valuable lessons on bravery and kindness.
With its simple and easy-to-understand writing, Jinan Samman does a fabulous job on Tiny Polly. The life lessons set out by Polly are short and logical, highly suitable for young children who have just started reading. I like how Jinan included Polly’s negative emotions in the story, such as sad feelings and loneliness that came from being an outcast. It teaches children from an early age to be more aware of people they might unintentionally hurt, just because they are different. I think Tiny Polly conveys the lesson elegantly. I love the beautiful artwork illustrated by Evgeniya. The watercolors give the story an organic feel that reminds me of the storybooks I read when I was a child. As I grew older, I started to appreciate the artwork behind each book, and I am sure the illustrations in Tiny Polly will leave the same impression on young readers. With its brilliant storyline, well-thought-out lessons, and beautifully drawn pictures, I highly recommend this book.
