I know that this book is based on an African fable and is supposed to have a good moral in the end. To me, it just puts mothers in a bad light. There are a bunch of little chicks who complain to their mother that their house is cold and wet and draughty. She tells them each morning that they will go out and get the materials for a new house. When they start looking for materials, they see food instead. The mother tells them that they'll eat that day and look for housing materials the next day--3 times! One little chick decides to gather the materials instead of eating for those three days, then ends up building the house himself. This is great for the little chick, but makes the mother look terrible! (I am not a mother, so this review does not have that bias.)