Lena the chicken is such a fun story about a feisty chicken who knows she has what it takes to protect the flock! When push comes to shove, she shows the flock just what she is made of… and so are they! They all reach down and embrace the dinosaur in their DNA. We really enjoyed the artwork and the fun story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun story about backyard chickens and their relation to dinosaurs! This book is fun to read with an engaging plot, colorful illustrations and enjoyable characters! A great book overall!!

*Thank you NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for this ARC!*

This book was adorable. It had a great message for young children about being able to be whatever they want to be, and about believing in yourself. The main character was engaging and someone that children will love. I had a blast reading this book and I cannot wait until I can have it on the shelves of the library.

An amusing and informative picture book about a chicken named Lena who knows that there's more to her kind than the small, feathery creatures they are today. Kids who love dinosaurs will be amazed by this book's ability to connect our world today with the myth-like creatures of the past.

Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) is an adorable and uplifting picture book about a pollito who wholeheartedly believes she’s a dinosaur. Through her unwavering confidence, she shows that chickens can embrace the traits they admire—strength, bravery, and uniqueness—regardless of how others perceive them. The illustrations are colorful and full of charm, bringing the humor and heart of the story to life. I love how the book seamlessly incorporates a scientific fact, making it both entertaining and educational—a definite plus! A great pick for kids who love dinosaurs and for anyone who needs a reminder that they can be whoever they want to be!

This was a super cute book ! Loved the little factual blurb at the end. My kiddo loved the illustrations throughout the book.

Generally speaking, I enjoyed this book. I thought that the full-page, silly, vibrant, warm, and cozy illustrative style was inviting and kept my attention. There were more full-page illustrations than not, which I think children would like. The townspeople appeared more diverse, and there was a visible, physically disabled person on the last page which isn’t as common in children’s books (at least from what I’ve seen when the books aren’t solely focused on disabilities). I think most of the language was developmentally appropriate for the age group that this book is aimed at, though some of the words would require a caregiver explaining it e.g. primeval. I think the only thing that didn’t really make sense was the science fair at the end. The point of a science fair is to conduct an experiment and report your findings, and 2/4 were not science fair appropriate topics. They were more like research topics. I also didn’t really understand the purpose of the book as there wasn’t much of a storyline to it. It seemed mostly about proving the chicken evolved from dinosaurs I guess? I’m not really sure.

This is a cute story about a very brave chicken who really believed in herself and shared her knowledge. Very cute illustrations.

Really cute story for kids! So many of them love dinosaurs so this book is such a cute and silly way to share with them this cool fact about chickens and dinosaurs! I also love the message about standing up and being brave in tough situations. Lots of silly dialogue and parts that would spark laughter and stories from kids who have chickens or live on a farm.

One of my favorite fun facts about chickens is that they are modern day dinosaurs. Naturally, I had to read Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!) because of the title alone. Linda Bailey does not disappoint in this adorable children's book. Illustrated with original art by K-Fai Steele, Lena the Chicken is a fun and informative children's book! For chicken and dinosaur lovers alike, Lena will steal your heart with her personality and heroics. The illustrations are so fun and really stand out in a sea of books with generic AI art.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Book Group, Tundra Books, and the author Linda Bailey for an ARC of Lena the Chicken in exchange for an honest review!

This is going to be a great book for all the dino-obsessed kids, and I think could be a really fun read-aloud/storytime book as well! I love that there's some endmatter explaining how dinosaurs and chickens are related. Fun, fast-paced, and a rollicking good time.

Lena is a chicken but thinks she's a dinosaur. She teaches her friends a thing or two about being a dinosaur, like self-defense, making noise, standing up for yourself, and sticking together. The book is really cute and delightful. It's great for both at home and in the classroom.

I LOVED the illustrations. I requested this one because my daughter loves chickens and dinosaurs. I will say you learn something new every day. I did not know that chickens were the closest living creatures to dinosaurs. The book was cute and a fun story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A cute book about the evolution of a dinosaur to a chicken. The chicken saves the day using her dinosaur instincts.

Lena the Chicken (But Really a Dinosaur!)
by Linda Bailey
5 out of 5 stars
Expected publication: October 28, 2025

When Lena the chicken thinks she is a dinosaur, the other chickens make fun of her. One day, when she saves the coop, they all realize she really is a dinosaur.

This is a FANTASTIC book that merges a fictional story with real science. I LOVE the illustrations! The scientific facts about the relationship between birds and dinosaurs are written at a perfect level for children to understand and to launch older children into more research. This is truly a book that a whole family can enjoy.

This is the cutest story!! I love the idea it instills in young children that you can be whatever you want to be. It sparks imagination which is very important. It has great vocabulary all throughout. There are many ways to use this book to teach language skills. Great illustrations and its just an all around fun and happy book for children. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the advanced copy!

Thank you for the ARC. My son and I just learned that birds are considered Dinosaurs from Sesame Street so this was a fun and cute read. The illustrations were great. We enjoyed this silly story.

Netgalley ARC - Love this! Lena's got spunk, which helps her stand up for herself and her friends/family/fellow chickens (dinosaurs). I like the inclusion of the family on the farm and the science fair that Lena got to attend at the end :)

Lena the Chicken(but really a dinosaur) was a very cute book. It not only drew you into what seemed like nonsense but also showed her relationship to actual dinosaurs. It was inventive and refreshing. I truly enjoyed the story.