Zoey, a headstrong and imaginative chicken with an aviator cap, persuades a pig named Sam to fly into space with her on a "ship" that's really a basket tied to a bunch of helium balloons. The basket actually gains some altitude, and the view Kober (The Flying Hand of Marco B.) provides—a Grant Wood–esque landscape at sunset—really is magical; the story itself seems to hover for a moment to let readers take it in. Close encounters with a baseball ("An asteroid!" says Zoey in full pretend-play mode), a kite ("A comet"), and a flock of birds ("Alien attack ships") send the basket back to Earth. Back at the barnyard, Sam recounts the adventure to their fellow barnyard animals and gives Zoey all the credit, noting that she "always finds a way." Lehrhaupt's (Please, Open This Book!) nonjudgmental tone is a breath of fresh air, and while the ending is lackadaisical, it's a pleasure to spend time with an intrepid character who gets to see her goofy dreams through. Ages 4–8. Author's agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary. Illustrator's agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Associates. (May)

PreS-Gr 2—An intrepid chicken and her hungry pig pal set off on an imaginary adventure. After some planning, Zoey, a take-charge hen sporting an aviator hat and goggles, decides it's time to travel into outer space. She asks the other farm animals to come along, but only Sam the pig takes her up on the offer, though what he really wants is a pie. To every argument brought up by naysayers, Zoey finds a positive angle. When Pip the mouse warns that the trip might be dangerous, Zoey confidently responds, "Not dangerous…. an adventure!" When Clara the cow points out that Zoey doesn't have a ship, the determined chicken declares, "Not a problem!…. an opportunity!" Finally, Sam and Zoey lift off (in a basket tied to a large bunch of balloons) and sail high over the farm. Though readers will clearly see that the pair are barely above the treetops—certainly not in space—they'll appreciate Zoey's penchant for make-believe. According to Zoey, a baseball whizzing by is an asteroid, a kite is a comet, and a flock of birds is an alien attack. Though hesitant initially, Sam eventually embraces the pretend adventure and—once they're both safely back on the ground—relays the exciting events to their farm friends. Young kids will be inspired by Zoey's can-do attitude and outsize imagination. Kober's digital illustrations feature softly shaded farm scenes with cartoon-style characters whose facial expressions and body language add humor. Creative design and placement of text, such as a gigantic "CRASH!" that appears behind the characters on their way down to Earth, create drama and make for a lively read-aloud. VERDICT A fun story for inspiring positive thinking, problem-solving, and old-fashioned imaginative play. A fine purchase for picture book collections, especially those in need of kindergarten read-alouds.—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal