If you’ve ever met a chicken with big dreams, Minerva Louise is your girl—er, bird. Janet Morgan Stoeke’s classic picture book (first published in the late ‘80s, I think?) is a goofy gem that still makes kids snort-laugh today. Minerva isn’t your average barnyard clucker. Nope, she’s got the curiosity of a detective and the grace of… well, a chicken in a snowsuit (trust me, it’s a thing in the sequels).

The story’s charm comes from Minerva’s wild misunderstandings. A flowerpot becomes a fancy hat. A ladder? Obviously a stairway to chicken paradise. Stoeke’s illustrations—simple but full of personality—perfectly capture the chaos. It’s like Amelia Bedelia for the preschool crowd, but with more feathers.

Teachers love this book for its easy humor and read-aloud rhythm. (Fun fact: It’s a sneaky way to talk about farm animals without boring kids.) Parents dig it too—mostly because it’s short enough to read three times before bedtime without losing your voice. If your kid ever dressed the dog in socks or tried to “help” sweep with a spaghetti strainer, they’ll see a kindred spirit in Minerva Louise.