Read an Excerpt

The Chicken Squad
Help!! Help!”

A squirrel came barreling into the chicken coop. He was out of breath and in a panic. “There is something big and scary in the yard!” gasped the squirrel. “It’s after me!”

“Describe it for me,” said Sugar. She pulled her notepad out of the old shoe.

“It’s big and scary!!” said the squirrel. “It’s BIG and it’s SCARY!!”

“Big and scary is not going to cut it,” said Sugar. “Lots of things are big and scary, kid. My mom is big and scary. Try again.”



“It’s ENORMOUS and FRIGHTENING,” said Squirrel.

Sugar put her pencil down. “Better. Keep going.”

“It’s HUGE and TERRIFYING!” cried the squirrel.

“Much better, Tail,” said Sugar. She checked her notes.

Big and Scary!

Enormous and Frightening!

Huge and Terrifying!

“Maybe I can help,” said Dirt. She took out her sketchpad. “What shape was it?” asked Dirt.

“It was . . . big,” answered the squirrel.

“Big is not a shape,” sighed Sugar. She put her notebook down. “You’ve got a good vocabulary, kid. But your poor shape knowledge means I can’t respect you. You should go now.”

“Hold on, Sugar,” said Dirt. “Let’s figure this out. Let’s start from the beginning.”

“It’s ENORMOUS!” snapped the squirrel. He was starting to get grumpy.

“I thought you said it was big,” said Sugar.



“Maybe I can give it a try,” said Dirt. “Is it bigger than a house?”

“Well, no,” said the squirrel.

“Is it bigger than the chicken coop?” asked Dirt.

“Well, no,” answered the squirrel.

“Is it bigger than you?” asked Dirt.

“I am a brave squirrel!! Of course it’s bigger than me!” said the squirrel. “Why would I be afraid of something if it wasn’t bigger than me?”

“Lots of people are afraid of things that are smaller than they are,” said Dirt.

“Well, not me,” said the squirrel. “I’m only afraid of one thing and it’s BIG and SCARY, and it came out of nowhere, and it’s out there waiting for me!”



“I think we need J. J. on this case,” said Sugar. “He knows the yard like the back of his paw. I’m going to run over there and ask him to join us.”

“Not the dog!” yelled the squirrel. “Not the DOG! NOT THE DOG!”

“What’s your beef with the dog, Tail?” asked Sugar.

“He’s big and scary!” answered the squirrel.

Sugar had a hunch.

“Fine, I’m just going to run outside and grab a shovel,” she announced. “I’ll be right back.”

“Not the shovel!” said Tail. “Not the SHOVEL! NOT THE SHOVEL!”

“What’s your beef with the shovel?” asked Sugar.

“It’s big and scary!” said the squirrel.

“I give up, Tail,” said Sugar. “Sounds to me like you’re afraid of everything in the yard. Now get out of here and call me when you have a real problem.” Sugar made a last note on her pad.

Big and Scary!

Enormous and Frightening!

Huge and Terrifying!

Never mind!

Just then a dark figure appeared in the doorway and cast a shadow over Dirt, Sugar, and Tail.

“Everything okay in here?” asked a deep, gruff voice. Tail’s eyes went wide, his face went pale, and he hit the floor.