School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Set in Texas and modeled after The Little Red Hen tale, Helen Ketteman's story (Albert Whitman, 2004) of friendship and sharing is beautifully illustrated in vivid cartoon artwork by Will Terry. When Miss Billie the armadillo asks her friends Tex the tarantula, Mackie the bluebird, and Taffy the horned toad to help her make her famous chili before the storm arrives, they all tell her that they are too busy to help, so she goes off alone to gather all of the ingredients. As soon as the chili is ready, Miss Billie's friends arrive and ask for some, but she turns them away because they didn't help her when she needed it. However, when the armadillo sits down to eat, the chili doesn't taste right because her friends aren't there to share it with her. Soon they return, each with a gift for dinner, and when they all sit down to eat the chili tastes just right. The pacing of this iconographic representation of the picture book is perfect, showing the entire picture then slowly panning to the character or item that is mentioned in the text. Ketteman reads the text at a pace that allows viewers time to take in the words and the pictures. On a few occasions, the background music is a bit too loud and almost overwhelms the narration. As a bonus feature, youngsters are treated to A Conversation with the Author at the end of the production. A sound choice for collections where picture book DVDs are popular.-Veronica Schwartz, Des Plaines Public Library, IL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Those who consider ""The Little Red Hen"" too cold-hearted will welcome this revision, in which Billie Armadilly feels guilty about not sharing her chili with three friends who wouldn't help her make it. The twangy text (""No workin' with Billie, no sharin' the chili!+) only rarely goes overboard. Despite the garish hues, the careful paintings capture the brooding mood and Texas setting. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Little Red Hen goes to Texas. A Blue Norther puts Miss Billie Armadilly in the mood for some chili, but when she asks Tex the tarantula, Mackie the bluebird, and Taffy the horned toad to help gather the requisite beetles, jalapeÑos, and prickly pear, they make excuses. So, it's "No cookin' with Billie, no sharin' the chili!" when the dish's scent draws the miscreants to her door. But despite its savor, the chili tastes "flat as a Texas prairie" to Miss Billie--until her now-repentant buddies reappear, bearing dishes of their own, to share it. Terry debuts with big Southwestern scenes, laid out in swirls and curls of rich color, through which his characters, decked out in western wear (that's a Stetson and four pairs of boots for Tex), saunter stylishly until gathering at Billie's hacienda to chatter the chilly night away. Despite the lack of a recipe--with or without beetles--here's a tale guaranteed to warm the bones on a cold night. (Picture book/folktale. 7-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
K-Gr. 3. Yee haw! This Texas-style takeoff on The Little Red Hen bubbles with southwestern flavor. Miss Billie Armadilly is hankerin' for a pot of hot armadilly chili but her friends--tarantula Tex, bluebird Mackie, and horned Taffy the toad--have excuses for not helping her gather a boxful of beetles, pick a peck of peppers, and chop prickly pear cactus. No workin' with Billie, no sharin' the chili, is Miss Billie's retort when the smell of the bubbling chili brings her friends to her door, but the chili tastes flat until her buddies return bringing sacks of apologies and goodies; friends, it seems were the missing ingredient. Ketteman flavors the tale and message with plenty of pizzazz. Terry uses hot, intensely saturated, southwestern colors to spice the comedy, and embellishes each critter's characteristics with clever details, such as Tex's bolo tie. A surefire hit for the lap-sit crowd. --Julie Cummins Copyright 2004 Booklist
