(upbeat music) Hello, Arkansas students and families.

This is Megan Ables here with you today as we're going to read a story together and this story's going to have lots of adventure.

And it's about a huge chicken.

Yes, a huge chicken.

So this story's actually titled The Giant Chicken of Portugal.

And this story was written by Victor Biton and illustrated by Alissa Creno.

What is this giant egg?

asked Lionel.

He snickered at an unusually large, yellowish, bright blue spotted egg sitting on their playroom shelf.

Oh, didn't Mom ever tell you this story?

Replied his older sister, who sat close by with a secret smile on her face.

No, said Lionel.

What is it?

Is it for breakfast?

Much cooler than breakfast, she said.

The sister, whom everyone called Beauty Mark, was a talented girl.

Beauty loved making things with her hands.

First, she would see the object in her mind.

And then, like magic, her hands knew how to create it.

Lionel and Beauty Mark were in their playroom where she kept all of her materials.

When Beauty's heart wanted to speak, she would often go there and let her hands tell the story.

Okay, she said at last.

I'll tell you.

A million, trillion years ago, after Mommy and Daddy got married, they traveled to a place called Portugal.

They visited great castles.

Old wall-surrounded cities, beautiful beaches and fishing villages.

They had many great adventures driving through tiny roads, reaching places where for hours, not a single soul was to be seen.

One time Mom said, Why don't we try this road right here?

It looks like it could take us to the river.

Dad hesitated.

It was a road that seemed perfectly suitable for goats, but not so much for the car.

Are you sure?

Asked Daddy, it is starting to get late?

Well, if it's too hard, we'll just turn back, said Mom.

The car started to climb, but the climb didn't lead to the river.

It led into a ditch.

Stop, stop!

Cried Mom.

But by then it was too late.

They were stuck right there in the mud.

They tried to move forward and backward.

They pushed really hard, but the poor car was stuck.

Why didn't they just call for help?

asked Lionel.

Oh, Beauty Mark paused.

Their, um, phones.

They got scared, so they grew wings and flew away.

(clears throat) She continued.

The sun was going down.

They were in the middle of nowhere and no help was in sight.

What will we do?

Asked Mom in a worried voice.

Are we going to spend the night in the car?

Bawk, bawk, bawk, bawk, was the reply.

Hey, said Mom, are you making fun of me?

Bawk, bawk was the response.

Mom and Dad looked at each other.

Silent.

Bawk.

Bawk?

came a question and definitely it was not Dad asking.

Oh, gasped Dad, looking behind Mom.

She turned around and her jaw dropped too.

It was the biggest chicken they've ever seen.

It was easily the size of a truck with big blue wings and polka dotted feet.

What?

What?

Stuttered Mom.

The chicken fluffed her feathers.

Oh, man, you haven't heard about me?

I am the giant chicken of Portugal.

Well, I thought you were a legend, said Mom.

Bawk!

Bawk!

Protested the chicken, flapping her giant wings.

I am not a legend.

I'm real.

And I'm strong.

I'll show you how strong.

The chicken stood behind the car and started pushing.

She pushed and pushed until she turned red and steam came out of her ears.

And just like that, the car rolled out of the ditch.

Whew, oops, said the chicken.

Her face even redder than before.

On the ground behind her, there was a giant egg.

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Mom, dad and the chicken all began to laugh.

You can keep it, said the chicken.

To prove to everyone I'm real.

Mom and Dad took the egg and thanked the chicken.

Bawk, bawk, she replied and waved one huge wing goodbye.

So you see, said Beauty Mark, we can't eat it.

Lionel laughed as he looked at the egg.

You're right.

Let's not eat it for breakfast after all.

He carefully took the egg and put it back on the shelf.

When he sat back down, he looked at the half warm clump of purple clay in his sister's hands.

What is that?

He asked.

Oh, this, Beauty Mark smiled, this is the only proof of a tiny lion of the Sahara Desert.

(upbeat music)