One of Publishers Weekly 's Best Books of 2025 "Gloriously goofy pencil and watercolor illustrations by Steele . and theatrical dialogue from Bailey . imbue Lena with delicious levels of gravitas across a triumphant, fully fleshed-out work that delivers important observations about honoring one's nature." -- STARRED REVIEW, Publishers Weekly "By celebrating themes of self-identity, bravery, and scientific concepts in a fun, accessible way, this is valuable for young readers and for social-emotional learning. offers a unique and engaging blend of fictional storytelling and scientific education, making it an excellent addition to school library collections." -- STARRED REVIEW, School Library Journal "An excellent opportunity for a dramatic read-aloud, the narration is paced in a fablelike style with sprinkles of jokey speech-bubble dialogue and a few scientific facts thrown in for good measure -- chickens are indeed among the closest living relatives to theropods. Steele's illustrations are a delightful match for Bailey's story. A silly, skillful, and scientifically grounded tale.
" --Kirkus Reviews "A hilarious story, elevated by Steele's uproarious illustrations (per usual), that also introduces some good knowledge." --Booklist.